HI Dave
I think I did not explain very clearly about wind at our lake it comes in of the sea but the lake sits down below an embankment and on one side there are apartment blocks so the wind does swirl around to the point you can be beating in one direction when the wind will do a 180degree change in direction. if the wind is gusting about I leave the topsail off this makes it a little more stable.My bowsprite is held in position by a wooden tapered wedge so if I do run into anything the bowsprite just slides back onto the deck then all I have to do is pull the bowsprite forward and refit the wedge and away we go.Cant remember the weight of the ballast could weigh boat minus masts and rigging etc it will give us a ballpark figure when I get a chance will mail you.
Good sailing
David

I have a pilot cutter with internal ballast a length of scaffold tube full of lead the battery for the winch and rudder control sits on top of the tube. I have sailed it in fairly strong winds without problems of stability though she will heel over so that the gunwales are in the water or even just under, our pond is on the coast of the Bristol channel so as you can Imagine the winds come straight in of the sea where the originals once sailed. The original boats were excellent sea boats they were sailed by one man and a boy once the pilot was rowed across to the waiting merchant ship.
Hope you have as great enjoyment sailing your boat as I have had with mine, one word of caution you should warn your fellow pond users not get in the way as they do not turn to quickly and if you hit another boat with the weight of the keel and the power in the sails you will inflict damage.

A scale model of a sailing pilot boat great to have on the water it has a winch to control the two foresail and the mainsail and with rudder control its just like the real thing aand with a good breeze she has a fair turn of speed. (5/10)

Rebuilt fireboat with working monitors made from white metal drilled out and a plastic tube fitted through the centre and connected to a pump. Nav lights, anchor light and search light work.
Quite fast rises out of water to almost centre of hull (Motor: Keda Kv830) (ESC: Seaking 25A for boats) (6/10)

The model is scratch built plank on frame and is 1" to 1ft scale still biulding nearly finished. (5/10)

Can anyone tell me whether there Is a nav light on the mast support, on the Kiel craft drawings I have It shows one but I cannot say Ive seen It one other models