Why is Tungsten Alloy Counterweights Used in Sailboat?

In some situation, we need some special things to add weight in sailboat. But the space for the special things usually very small. For example, the sailboats, if the sailboats weight is not enough, it can turn turtle easily, especially when moving in a wind weather. So, we need add some tungsten alloy counterweights into the sailboats to against the yawing when sailing forward.

With significant reductions in size possible, this in turn, leads to greater control of weight distribution in sailboat. Due to the special properties of tungsten alloy counterweights, they are usually used in sailboats weight. In this article, you will get a good understanding of the special properties of tungsten alloy counterweights in sailboat.

1.0 High density- up to 18.5 g/cm3.

It is very strong and robust material with a very high density (18.5 g/cm³), 65% denser than Lead, 130% denser than Steel. The upper part of the sailboat will be greatly counterbalanced by installing specialized tungsten alloy counterweights in the main rod. It stands right and firmly without being bended or broken even facing the strong wind between 9-10 scale according to a relevant research published by Oxford University.

2.0 Corrosion resistant

The seawater contains a high amount of salt and other chemicals which easily corrode metals like iron, copper etc. Sailboat deals a lot with seawater which exposes itself in a very corrosive environment. The materials for making sailboat should be anti-corrosive. Tungsten alloy counterweights is an ideal material for this kind of purpose. Tungsten possesses a special property of anti-corrosive, which makes it stands with salt environment for a longer time compared with other metals.

3.0 Easily mechanically joined, brazed or shrunk fit to other materials

With the development of the cutting machines and refinement technology, there are a wide range of specifications of tungsten alloy counterweights, which can be customized by specific requirements in size, density, pureness. Different kinds of tungsten alloy counterweights can be made to be combined with other materials in making different parts of sailboat. For example, the bottom plate of the sailboat(showed in the below picture) is made by a plate combining 80% tungsten with 20% copper in a rectangle shape.

Since the use of tungsten alloy counterweights in sailboat, Lead has gradually been abandoned for its toxicity and lower density than tungsten. Tungsten gains a unprecedented popularity in sailboat industry.

• < Prev
• Next >