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Ya know,,,, Ballasting a sub with lead and a small Variable Ballast Tank
really isn't that big of a deal. I have about four hundred pounds of
lead in my sub. If I'm taking on someone or something, I toss
out roughly the weight of the passenger or anything else over maybe
ten pounds. After that, I fill my main ballast, and then fill my VBT
until I'm neutral. That's it!
The Variable Ballast Tank on a K-350 is a bit small so I try to get my
lead weight with in five or ten pounds but it's not difficult. If the
ballast tank were larger it would take a larger volume of air to go from filling
ballast to blowing ballast, but it would give me more variation in
buoyancy. Conversely, if it were smaller It would take less air, but then
I would have to get my lead load closer to get the proper dive weight.
Lead is cheep if you get free tire weights as I did. Some tire shops
are just happy to get to get rid of it. Don't over think a ballast
system. Just keep your subs weight on the positive side and weight as need
be when your testing it. Any lead you will add can be added low in the
hull where it will help with stability Also, you will have the
option of adding something to the sub later if you choose, without getting
to heavy.
Dan H.
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