Has anyone installed foam or other types of flotation in order to add positive flotation to their boats for safety purposes? I've read about the theory and calculations but would like any practicle advice or suggestions. Thanks
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Has anyone installed foam or other types of flotation in order to add positive flotation to their boats for safety purposes? I've read about the theory and calculations but would like any practicle advice or suggestions. Thanks
My boat has it
I bought a '75 C22 that has foam installed by a previous owner. I takes away a lot of storage space, isn't properly concealed, and probably isn't enough to keep the boat from sinking. A major problem is that when water gets in to the bilge are, from heavy rains, (a problem I think I'll have solved next season)the water gets under the foam on the starboard side and can't be removed. I have to deal with a slow trickle from there until it eventually dries out. My recommendation is, don't install foam, and don't put yourself into a situation where you wished your boat had floatation
I bought a '75 C22 that has foam installed by a previous owner. I takes away a lot of storage space, isn't properly concealed, and probably isn't enough to keep the boat from sinking. A major problem is that when water gets in to the bilge are, from heavy rains, (a problem I think I'll have solved next season)the water gets under the foam on the starboard side and can't be removed. I have to deal with a slow trickle from there until it eventually dries out. My recommendation is, don't install foam, and don't put yourself into a situation where you wished your boat had floatation
My boat has it
I bought a '75 C22 that has foam installed by a previous owner. I takes away a lot of storage space, isn't properly concealed, and probably isn't enough to keep the boat from sinking. A major problem is that when water gets in to the bilge are, from heavy rains, (a problem I think I'll have solved next season)the water gets under the foam on the starboard side and can't be removed. I have to deal with a slow trickle from there until it eventually dries out. My recommendation is, don't install foam, and don't put yourself into a situation where you wished your boat had floatation
I bought a '75 C22 that has foam installed by a previous owner. I takes away a lot of storage space, isn't properly concealed, and probably isn't enough to keep the boat from sinking. A major problem is that when water gets in to the bilge are, from heavy rains, (a problem I think I'll have solved next season)the water gets under the foam on the starboard side and can't be removed. I have to deal with a slow trickle from there until it eventually dries out. My recommendation is, don't install foam, and don't put yourself into a situation where you wished your boat had floatation
on a trailersailor
my macgregor trailer sailor has positive floatation, (so they say). I cut some of the stryofoam out for storage and replaced it w/ some spray foam (great stuff). I doubt a heavy displacement hull could have enough floation if holed. (that 3000lb lead keel will be hard to float)
my macgregor trailer sailor has positive floatation, (so they say). I cut some of the stryofoam out for storage and replaced it w/ some spray foam (great stuff). I doubt a heavy displacement hull could have enough floation if holed. (that 3000lb lead keel will be hard to float)
on a trailersailor
my macgregor trailer sailor has positive floatation, (so they say). I cut some of the stryofoam out for storage and replaced it w/ some spray foam (great stuff). I doubt a heavy displacement hull could have enough floation if holed. (that 3000lb lead keel will be hard to float)
my macgregor trailer sailor has positive floatation, (so they say). I cut some of the stryofoam out for storage and replaced it w/ some spray foam (great stuff). I doubt a heavy displacement hull could have enough floation if holed. (that 3000lb lead keel will be hard to float)
Etaps and airbags for your boat
My father in law's Etap 39 has a foam cored hull that when holed will fill to waist level in the cabin and will continue to sail. They also have some smaller versions of this. I saw an article where they holed the boat and let it fill and then they sailed it at 3 kts. As far as adding floatation, I have seen where you can have inflatable bags custom built to inflate in the cabin to provide positive boyancy. Tim R.
My father in law's Etap 39 has a foam cored hull that when holed will fill to waist level in the cabin and will continue to sail. They also have some smaller versions of this. I saw an article where they holed the boat and let it fill and then they sailed it at 3 kts. As far as adding floatation, I have seen where you can have inflatable bags custom built to inflate in the cabin to provide positive boyancy. Tim R.
Etaps and airbags for your boat
My father in law's Etap 39 has a foam cored hull that when holed will fill to waist level in the cabin and will continue to sail. They also have some smaller versions of this. I saw an article where they holed the boat and let it fill and then they sailed it at 3 kts. As far as adding floatation, I have seen where you can have inflatable bags custom built to inflate in the cabin to provide positive boyancy. Tim R.
My father in law's Etap 39 has a foam cored hull that when holed will fill to waist level in the cabin and will continue to sail. They also have some smaller versions of this. I saw an article where they holed the boat and let it fill and then they sailed it at 3 kts. As far as adding floatation, I have seen where you can have inflatable bags custom built to inflate in the cabin to provide positive boyancy. Tim R.
You could always do what
James Baldwin did to his boat "Adam" a 28 foot Pearson Triton. James wrote an article I read some time ago. He feels that his best bet is to make his boat unsinkable instead of relying on a life raft or outside help. He made water tight compartments in his boat so that if he develops a leak only that area will fill with water. You can get to his site here http://www.atomvoyages.com/atom/aboutus.htm By the way James has sailed more miles than most people, lives on his boat with his wife and only uses an outboard, and then only if he must. He is a sailors sailor in my book.
James Baldwin did to his boat "Adam" a 28 foot Pearson Triton. James wrote an article I read some time ago. He feels that his best bet is to make his boat unsinkable instead of relying on a life raft or outside help. He made water tight compartments in his boat so that if he develops a leak only that area will fill with water. You can get to his site here http://www.atomvoyages.com/atom/aboutus.htm By the way James has sailed more miles than most people, lives on his boat with his wife and only uses an outboard, and then only if he must. He is a sailors sailor in my book.
You could always do what
James Baldwin did to his boat "Adam" a 28 foot Pearson Triton. James wrote an article I read some time ago. He feels that his best bet is to make his boat unsinkable instead of relying on a life raft or outside help. He made water tight compartments in his boat so that if he develops a leak only that area will fill with water. You can get to his site here http://www.atomvoyages.com/atom/aboutus.htm By the way James has sailed more miles than most people, lives on his boat with his wife and only uses an outboard, and then only if he must. He is a sailors sailor in my book.
James Baldwin did to his boat "Adam" a 28 foot Pearson Triton. James wrote an article I read some time ago. He feels that his best bet is to make his boat unsinkable instead of relying on a life raft or outside help. He made water tight compartments in his boat so that if he develops a leak only that area will fill with water. You can get to his site here http://www.atomvoyages.com/atom/aboutus.htm By the way James has sailed more miles than most people, lives on his boat with his wife and only uses an outboard, and then only if he must. He is a sailors sailor in my book.
Personal Positive Flotation
It seems that to do this project it requires you to remove most storage space for the very unlikely possibility that you might sink your boat. I would recommend that you focus more on making yourself and your crew unsinkable. Wear an auto-inflating vest whenever on the water, use harnesses when in rough water, have rescue ropes and floats at the ready, and avoid dangerous weather and circumstances. It is much more likely that someone will go overboard at some point than that your boat will sink. My two cents.
It seems that to do this project it requires you to remove most storage space for the very unlikely possibility that you might sink your boat. I would recommend that you focus more on making yourself and your crew unsinkable. Wear an auto-inflating vest whenever on the water, use harnesses when in rough water, have rescue ropes and floats at the ready, and avoid dangerous weather and circumstances. It is much more likely that someone will go overboard at some point than that your boat will sink. My two cents.
Personal Positive Flotation
It seems that to do this project it requires you to remove most storage space for the very unlikely possibility that you might sink your boat. I would recommend that you focus more on making yourself and your crew unsinkable. Wear an auto-inflating vest whenever on the water, use harnesses when in rough water, have rescue ropes and floats at the ready, and avoid dangerous weather and circumstances. It is much more likely that someone will go overboard at some point than that your boat will sink. My two cents.
It seems that to do this project it requires you to remove most storage space for the very unlikely possibility that you might sink your boat. I would recommend that you focus more on making yourself and your crew unsinkable. Wear an auto-inflating vest whenever on the water, use harnesses when in rough water, have rescue ropes and floats at the ready, and avoid dangerous weather and circumstances. It is much more likely that someone will go overboard at some point than that your boat will sink. My two cents.
another alternative you might want to check out...
is this new system I saw recently in Sail magazine. This company has invented an 'airbag' system that is installed in a rub rail just above the waterline on both sides of the boat. When inflated (either manually or automatically) the bags pop out of the rub rail and inflate, just like an inflateable PFD for your boat. Check it out at www.floatlogic.com, it looks like a pretty kewl idea! Jeff
is this new system I saw recently in Sail magazine. This company has invented an 'airbag' system that is installed in a rub rail just above the waterline on both sides of the boat. When inflated (either manually or automatically) the bags pop out of the rub rail and inflate, just like an inflateable PFD for your boat. Check it out at www.floatlogic.com, it looks like a pretty kewl idea! Jeff
Jeff, I wonder why they advertise in Sail.
Their web site only shows the device on powerboats. Two problems with a sailboat installation of those things. First is heel. I wouldn't want that stuff glommed on my hull. You couldn't sail to weather. Second, sailboats weigh a lot more than power boats. You would need a lot more flotation than what is shown on that web site. I've seen the same idea for sailboats before. But the idea was to deploy the bags internally. The problem with those systems is keeping the bags out of the way for aesthetic reasons and retaining them in a useful position when deployed. Solve those two problems and you've got something. But cost could be a problem. Maybe it's just better to keep a good watch.
Their web site only shows the device on powerboats. Two problems with a sailboat installation of those things. First is heel. I wouldn't want that stuff glommed on my hull. You couldn't sail to weather. Second, sailboats weigh a lot more than power boats. You would need a lot more flotation than what is shown on that web site. I've seen the same idea for sailboats before. But the idea was to deploy the bags internally. The problem with those systems is keeping the bags out of the way for aesthetic reasons and retaining them in a useful position when deployed. Solve those two problems and you've got something. But cost could be a problem. Maybe it's just better to keep a good watch.
Stay attached and stay afloat!
IMHO you would be better off doing everything that you can to make sure that you and your crew stay attached to the boat and they stay afloat and protected from the elements with safety equipment at hand. Then, make sure that if a disaster occurs you can be found in the least amount of time. Then, think about floating the boat. Be careful with spray in place foam. You can trap moisture in the wrong places and block the natural drainage of your hull. Jon McClain
IMHO you would be better off doing everything that you can to make sure that you and your crew stay attached to the boat and they stay afloat and protected from the elements with safety equipment at hand. Then, make sure that if a disaster occurs you can be found in the least amount of time. Then, think about floating the boat. Be careful with spray in place foam. You can trap moisture in the wrong places and block the natural drainage of your hull. Jon McClain
Reminds me of that giant parachute
they invented for small planes. I agree with others that might be more effective to invest in PFD's with harness, strobes, waterproof (or bagged) handheld radios, ditch bag etc.
they invented for small planes. I agree with others that might be more effective to invest in PFD's with harness, strobes, waterproof (or bagged) handheld radios, ditch bag etc.
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