Barnacle Bill Magazine March 2016 issue 3 | Page 26

26

The
Bosun’s Mate

IMPORTANT! When Mike is describing a
‘thimble’ he means one of these >>>>>

NOT one of these
<<<<<<<<

Casting your own lead line by Mike Field of
www.woodenboatfittings.com.au
Our foundry casts sounding leads for us in standard weights of 7, 14 and 28lbs. They can also provide them in
bronze at the same size and about ninety present of the weight.
For pocket cruisers in shoal waters, I think 3lbs is a heavy enough lead to use. If I were going far offshore or
charting harbour approaches or somesuch, I might want to take a 7lb one as well. However, it’s not difficult to
make a small sounding lead yourself. I’m sure there are several ways, but here’s how I made mine –
1. Start with a piece of copper pipe, say, 1” dia. And 6” long and flare both ends slightly (a ball peen hammer
will do it okay).

2. Get hold of a small stainless shackle whose pin end, with pin, will fit into the pipe.

3. Take out the pin, insert a stainless thimble on which your line will later be spliced, and replace the pin. Tie
a temporary piece of tie-wire around the thimble.