Last update: 07 Jan 08

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Tank Test

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  After the running hardware was installed, I did a tank test.  The tank test serves several useful purposes.  Checking the hull for leaks is an important purpose, but not necessarily the most important.  This model is inherently top heavy.  Buy doing a tank test before the deck is attached, I can better identify the required ballast for this model and it's best location in the hull. 
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  For the test I made a simple tank from 1"x12"s and some plastic.  A trip to my local lumber yard allowed me to find the needed scraps I needed for a few pennies. 

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  I had only about 6" of water in the tank.  Just enough to float the hull.  Inside the hull I installed the batteries, motors and other items that would be installed in the hull.  If the items were not mounted, they were placed approximately in the location where they would be mounted.

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  I used two levels to verify the model was level in the water.  I slowly added ballast to bring the hull down to 1/8" below the top of the Boot Topping. 

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  For ballast, I used BB's.   I arranged the ballast until I got the hull to sit correctly in the water using the least amount of ballast.  I also kept the ballast low in the hull.   I made a note of the ballast and it's location in the hull.

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