Cadenza Ballast

With her new bulb and engines Cadenza was preparing for an extensive voyage in international waters when it was determined that she required improved stability for operating offshore in all sea conditions. With TBM’s participation the owner’s team considered various options to improve the boat’s stability. In the end it was determined that the most cost-effective and least disruptive option was to fit lead to the exterior of the boat’s fiberglass keel. The owner’s team developed a 3D model of the lead “sponsons” to be fitted along the keel in sections. Patterns for each section were machined by Janicki Industries in Sedro Wooley and Turn Point Design here in Port Townsend. Sections were cast by Non Ferrous Metals in Seattle. This was a difficult project because of the potential interference of hoses and pipes that were routed through the bilge and because of the difficulty of working under a boat with sections of lead weighing hundreds of pounds. Through careful preparation and attention to detail the project was completed successfully. The skipper reports that the stability and steadiness of the boat are greatly improved.