Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Blowing ballast (was: question about general design?)

[VBra676539@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/13/2001 3:19:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
mholt@richmond.edu writes:

<< Long ago, I was actually thinking about using gravel as emergency
 ballast. I had the idea that a thick trash bag nested in a frame 
 of metal would survive most normal operations, and I'd drop the 
 ballast by having a blade that would tear the bag.  The gravel 
 would  cascade out of the frame, tearing the bag to shreds. 
  >>
You might want to do some experiments about weight before making any 
decisions along the "detachable gravel" line. You might be surprised just how 
much volume it takes to equal a chunk of lead the size of a shoe box.
Vance