Hey guys, Don't know if some of the other 23's were lead or not. A heavy duty magnet should tell you, though. I agree with everything the guys have already written on this. First, Bones and Dave are correct. If everything is intact on the 23 (like the 17 and 15's) then no problem. I'd certainly leave it alone. The job that John, Theo, and myself did is totally do-able, but for me at least, it was NO fun. Second, John is correct that Lead is expensive! I thought I was going to be able to acquire "scrap" lead for next to nothing. In my case at least, that did not happen. I ended up getting it from a cartridge company in Phoenix for about $1/lb but that was a few years ago. Then you have to ship it or go get it. If I'm not mistaken, when they opened up Theo's keel they found a combination of lead ingots and steel punchings. The one benefit I think I have obtained from replacing the steel with lead is that concentration of the weight is lower and more compact, and I used the extra room achieved to add some extra weight in there (after emailing back and forth with Jerry M). I think Dauntless sails a little stiffer than some other 23's we've been around, although I'm sure we suffer a little from that in lighter breezes. We sit a little lower in the water. It sure comes in handy when it blows. Not that it has anything to do with the ballast job, but I don't think I have ever sailed a trailerable boat in heavier type winds that I felt so comfortable on. She seems to love just diggin' her shoulder in an going. If we get overpowered she takes care of us while we get the sail plan changed and then we are off and running again. I have read similar accounts from Mark up in Oregon about he and Roberta pushing "Faith" through some pretty rough conditions up there. Of course your question, Brian, leads me to wonder??? Have you located one of the "missing 23's" ??? I hope so! (There's only about 5 left that we don't know the whereabouts of) If you have I'd grab it! There was a run there for a while where they were turning up quite a bit, but things have gotten pretty quiet on the "available 23" market lately! Fred an Lily's '02 is for sale though in Tucson and I believe it is not only all lead, but if I'm not mistaken it has a stainless centerboard trunk and a bronze swing keel, doesn't it?? Let us know what you found! Sean M23 "Dauntless" _www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com_ (http://www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com) **************Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom000000...)