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Gordon Booth · 06-11-2010, 14:01

I only start a new thread on this in the hope that some younger(or older) brain more agile than mine will see it and check it out.
I loved the story(Heritage and History,John Kelly's album,post 193) about the coffin which floated its occupant 3,500 miles home.Tealeaf didn't think a leadlined coffin would float, I wasn't sure.So-
6ft man, say 10 stone=140 lb(he'd been ill)
Coffin 7ftx2ft 6"x1ft 6"(to leave room for his pillow, shoes and some breathing space!)
Coffin volume=26.25cu ft. If it just floated it would displace this amount of water,which weighs 1641lb(62.5lb/cu ft,salt water would weigh more!).
Lead lining for coffin requires 63.5 sq/ft of lead,1/16 inch thick=0.34 cu/ft lead.SG of lead =11.35 so lead weighs 240lb.
Man+lead= 380lb(ignore wood coffin,it floats anyway).
Water displaced can be up to 1641lb so the coffin would EASILY float and the soldered seams on the lead would make it watertight.
Three questions-1.Am I right?
2. Does anyone care?
3.Am I a boring old fart who should go back to sleep?
I hope I'm right, I love the story. Any more,Busman747?

06-11-2010, 14:01	#1
Gordon Booth Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,402 Liked: 715 times Rep Power: 46614	Would a lead lined coffin float? I only start a new thread on this in the hope that some younger(or older) brain more agile than mine will see it and check it out. I loved the story(Heritage and History,John Kelly's album,post 193) about the coffin which floated its occupant 3,500 miles home.Tealeaf didn't think a leadlined coffin would float, I wasn't sure.So- 6ft man, say 10 stone=140 lb(he'd been ill) Coffin 7ftx2ft 6"x1ft 6"(to leave room for his pillow, shoes and some breathing space!) Coffin volume=26.25cu ft. If it just floated it would displace this amount of water,which weighs 1641lb(62.5lb/cu ft,salt water would weigh more!). Lead lining for coffin requires 63.5 sq/ft of lead,1/16 inch thick=0.34 cu/ft lead.SG of lead =11.35 so lead weighs 240lb. Man+lead= 380lb(ignore wood coffin,it floats anyway). Water displaced can be up to 1641lb so the coffin would EASILY float and the soldered seams on the lead would make it watertight. Three questions-1.Am I right? 2. Does anyone care? 3.Am I a boring old fart who should go back to sleep? I hope I'm right, I love the story. Any more,Busman747?