Need bouyancy! Need advice!

[Robert Smart]

I have a compartment (40 to 50 gallon volume size) in the bow of my 13’ Marlin sailboat that is partially filled with some 30-year-old foam material used for positive flotation. The bulkhead is sealed off with the exception of a 5" hole (covered by a water tight deck plate) and a scupper (plugged when sailing). More than half of the compartment remains empty and unusable. I would like to fill it with a lightweight material, which has high resistance to absorbing water, and can also be sprayed through the hole in the bulkhead and/or scupper.I do have some reservations, however, about filling the area up in the first place. In general, I would at least like to find a good material and method to add to the buoyancy of the boat to make it more rightable and less disposed to filling with water. I may have to replace the flotation material in my 17’ daysailer as well so; I’m interested in finding material suitable for my application. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Dave]

Cheap solution

How about styrofoam? You know the stuff they package electronics (and even coffee cups for that matter). This stuff is waterproof and I read a report somewhere years ago in the earth day period that it doesn't biodegrade so it will still be floating about 750,000 years from now. I have seen coffee cups floating out at sea and they seem pretty waterproof.You can cut the stuff with a utility knife and piece it into the compartment. Another option for you is don't use anything and make the compartment watertight. I just built an 11 foot sailing dinghy and I built watertight compartments fore and aft. I thought about foam but I'd rather have the space for storing my registration and other important items if needed. I thought about putting foam under the center seat instead for additional flotation.Best wisehesdave