Floating foam amount and location

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ehudm

ehudm

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Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
My D almost has no foam, might was removed by PO. but the sign "do not remove.." still there
Anyone with D knows where exactly and how much should be in total and more important is how to divided between all spaces?
could I use the pink boards from Home Depot as a replacement?
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
about 27 cf is the original amount of foam.... it offers almost 500lbs of additional positive buoyancy after the boat has swamped, to support the added gear you are carrying...

you want a closed cell type so it does NOT soak up water over time.... spray foam WILL soak up water, as will many other types. not so much when on the verticle or overhead, but as it lays in the lower recesses of the hull, it will become waterlogged....
styrofoam is what the manufacture used....

as for dividing it amongst the available space, thats your decision.... the foam will float the boat, but you decide how you want it to float.
i have moved my foam almost entirely to the port side as there is more un-accessable storage area there... and the stuff under the v-berth, I restacked it so as to create more usable storage space and used a dab or two of spray foam in stragic spots to hold in in place.
so in the unlikely event that i should founder, the boat may float on its side, but it wont sink unless i have too much negatively buoyant gear on board....:D
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
peanuts

I've heard mention of using packing peanuts. Makes sense since they would conform to the nooks and crannies easier. Might want to bag them first or an occasional peanut my come flying out the companionway.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Justin_NSA said:
I've heard mention of using packing peanuts. Makes sense since they would conform to the nooks and crannies easier. Might want to bag them first or an occasional peanut my come flying out the companionway.
Click to expand
no nooks and crannies to worry about filling when using packing peanuts... as they lay in the lowest point and spread out where ever they want to and would be a mess:D
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
centerline said:
no nooks and crannies to worry about filling when using packing peanuts... as they lay in the lowest point and spread out where ever they want to and would be a mess:D
Click to expand
That's why I'm thinking they should be bagged first
 
finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
I thought the original amount was 16sq'. But I may be thinking of the minimum needed for an empty boat. There is a thread someplace here that goes over all the buoyancy and weight differences of things (fiberglass hull) in both salt and fresh water.
On my 26d the whole area under the V berth was full. Above the sink and along the area below the seats in the cockpit. There was some also stuffed way under in the back along the side bilge area.
Mine was full of mold. I took all except what is under the cockpit out. I won't be replacing it. The storage space is more important to me. Most other sailboats don't have foam so I figure I don't need it either.
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
what year D? 89 has some over the v berth,like on the s.

and the stuff under the v berth can be compressed to a smaller space, or, more can be fit in there than the factory installed in my 88.
 
ehudm

ehudm

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Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
The boat is 88, I would like to have positive buoyancy and have some storage too, under the v-berth there is a 100L bag of water, but there is some space for Styrofoam or storage, didn't open yet beneath the cockpit but there are some left over of Styrofoam that drop like snow sometimes.
 
ehudm

ehudm

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Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
Thanks all for your help, with 27cf seems like I'll be sitting in the dingy behind the boat while the the boat safe from sinking, I'll need longer line to control the sails from there.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
ehudm said:
Thanks all for your help, with 27cf seems like I'll be sitting in the dingy behind the boat while the the boat safe from sinking, I'll need longer line to control the sails from there.
Click to expand
it fits fine.. i measured mine when i replace it all and came reasonably close to that number even with my rough measurments....

1 cf of styrofoam gives about 62-64 lbs of flotation depending on the salinity of the water....
 
ehudm

ehudm

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Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
centerline said:
it fits fine.. i measured mine when i replace it all and came reasonably close to that number even with my rough measurments....

1 cf of styrofoam gives about 62-64 lbs of flotation depending on the salinity of the water....
Click to expand
The boat weight is 1650 lbs when empty and should have 16sq Styrofoam, 992 lbs for floating from the manufacturer? about 60% from the total weight.
so your calc of 27cf should be more the enough with all the extra lbs, thanks.
found this tread about the floating and turtles: http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=93462
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
ehudm said:
The boat weight is 1650 lbs when empty and should have 16sq Styrofoam, 992 lbs for floating from the manufacturer? about 60% from the total weight.
so your calc of 27cf should be more the enough with all the extra lbs, thanks.
found this tread about the floating and turtles: http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=93462
Click to expand
somehow i missed the model of your boat being a 26... you are correct, they dont need as much flotation as the keelers do:D...
 
ehudm

ehudm

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Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
Still a good advise with all the extras we carry, maybe helium is a good idea too not just for floatation, it'll make the boat lighter on the water.
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
ehudm said:
Still a good advise with all the extras we carry, maybe helium is a good idea too not just for floatation, it'll make the boat lighter on the water.
Click to expand
It will also make the crew talk funny! :dance:
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
Basically fill all the cavities. the only places open will be under the cabin seats, & under the floor (bilge)

- under the cockpit needs to be cut to access. so if its not been cut, it should be full of old Styrofoam.

was there any in the lazarette? that I don't remember.
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
just remember it has to be contained.

it will want to float out, which is why the p-nuts don't seem so great, unless its in a bag and the bag will not open or move.

you can also get free stryofoam at northern tool... they ship it w the trailers as packing.

but I'd get closed cell foam. they sell 4x8 sheets at HD and lowes.
 
ehudm

ehudm

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Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
Thanks MrBill, I'll check HD junt need to check how many sheets I'll need.
 
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