Ballast, kinds of:
Inside ballast is either lead, iron or stone. There is no question but what stone is the best ballast, so far as the effect is concerned, and lead the worst. Lead has the advantage of being always worth its money, second-hand lead bringing nearly the same price as new. Old iron is of little or no value. Lead stows snugly and is clean. Iron is very dirty, and the rust from it is a nuisance. The disadvantage of stone is that you cannot secure it. Inside ballast should be secured so as not to shift in case the vessel gets on her side. Heavy ballast should rest on the frame and not on the plank.