Installation of Balast and a False Keel

The foundry in Piraeus where the lead ballast for the “Faneromeni” was cast,
note furnace in the background.

April 1992.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

One of the lead ballast segments.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The lead ballast segments are lifted by the hoist and loaded in my car.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Raynaldo, “Faneromeni’s” current crewman, assists in the loading.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

All four lead segments are loaded. Their combined weight is 1,000 kg (2,205 lb).

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

In this photograph note the mortise (notch) and the end tenon (projection) that lock the ballast segments to one another.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

My Blazer, sitting low from the weight, proudly participates in the project of ballasting the “Faneromeni”.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Back to the “Faneromeni” and the shipyard. The process of installing the lead ballast begins. In the foreground, Dimitris Prasinos, who was instrumental in this task.

April 1992.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)
Απρίλιος 1992

(Φωτογραφικό αρχείο Νίκου Ε. Ρηγινού)

With the help of a hydraulic jack, each segment, weighing 250 kg (550 lb), is lifted and guided into place.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Two ballast segments locked with one another.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Dimitrakis, son of mastro-Spyros Koupetoris, one of the youngest family members, actively participates in preserving the traditions of the shipyard.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Dimitris Prasinos drilling a hole in a segment of lead ballast. The hole will continue through the keel and the keelson (σωτρόπι). The bolt (τζαβέτα) that holds ballast, keel, and keelson together passes through this hole.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The drill bit for this task is, by necessity, very long, too long for the space between the lead ballast segment and the ground. The solution in this case is, as shown in the photograph, to dig away the ground so that the drill and the long drill bit fit.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

This critical task is performed by mastro-Spyros Koupetoris and Dimitris Prasinos, the principals of the family-operated shipyard, working together.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The lead ballast segments are secured in place. The holes through ballast segments,
keel, and keelson have been drilled.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

With the completion of the tasks described above, the bolts come next. These bolts pass through the lead ballast segments, the keel, and the keelson. They support the ballast and re-enforce the keel. Similar bolts were in place, prior to securing the lead ballast segments, to support the keel.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The bolts that support the lead ballast segments are now installed. A beam of suitable proportions will be placed to close the gap aft of the ballast segments. This will be the only wooden portion of the false keel.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The wooden section of the false keel is installed on the aft side.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The wooden section of the false keel is installed on the aft side.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Yiorgos Karayiannis nails the false keel with long nails.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The completion of all these tasks is followed by painting of the bilge with minium (Lead tetroxide) primer.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

In the meantime Ntinos Gaitanos, together with his father mastro-Lefteris, continues to paint the boat (hull and underbody).

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

Raynaldo undertakes the hard task of painting the bilge.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The painting of the bilge progresses satisfactorily. The picture shows the part of the bilge that is underneath the engine (the engine itself is “vacationing” at the Mpekatoros Brothers’ machine shop.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)

The bilge is now painted and ready. With the painting of the bilge the tasks of replacing the keel and the installation of the ballast were completed.

April 1992.

(Archive of Nikos E. Riginos)