Frequently asked questions

The answer to this question depends entirely on the purpose for which you want to use the ballast and what space needs to be filled. Steel is cheaper than lead. However, lead weighs more than one and a half times as much per cubic metre. So you will need less ballast and therefore less volume if you opt for lead.

Steel is known for being cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Lead is seen in large parts of Europe but also in America as a material that is more harmful to the earth. Consequently, more requirements are placed on the manufacture of lead ballast. This leads to higher costs. But at en.ballast-products.co.uk, you don’t have to worry about cost and environmental friendliness. Our lead ballast is virtually one hundred per cent recycled.

Lead and steel are very suitable materials to apply as ballast in shipping, construction and industry. Concrete also seems attractive, but it has a major drawback: a lot of it is needed. This is because the density of the material is a lot lower. This means that more of it is needed to reach a certain desired weight. The extra volume this entails can be a problem especially when space is limited.

Lead is a relatively soft material and has high internal damping. This has made it a successful ballast in shipbuilding for centuries. The softness of the material ensures that any causes of impact are cushioned.

It is best to choose steel ballast when price is the decisive factor. This is because this material is cheaper than lead. But ballast-products.com can also supply lead ballast products at a very competitive price. We have short lines of communication with factories at home and abroad and the lead ballast is almost one hundred per cent recycled.

Ballast lead is used to distribute weight, counteract buoyancy and provide stability. Lead ballast allows resistance to lateral forces on the sail. The lead allows the sailboat to lie a little deeper in the water, which reduces the effect of wind on the vessel.