I'm restoring a Catalina 1977, how do you get the water out of these compartments? Has anyone removed the foam and not replace it?
I've never been a fan of user-installed foam, for a long list of reasons. I'm told Catalina offered factory foam (which yours might be) but there have been many threads here about it getting waterlogged, and how to remove it.I'm restoring a Catalina 1977, how do you get the water out of these compartments? Has anyone removed the foam and not replace it?
One somewhat minor quibble: The boat materials themselves also displace water, so you don't need quite that much foam. As best I can tell, fiberglass density is usually around 1.6 g/cc, so for 1000kg of boat, you need an extra ~375 liters of flotation (1000 * (1-1/1.6)).Every 1000kg of boat would require 1000 ltrs of floatation... and thats the bare minimum. Even foam only gives you an 85 to 90% bouyancy for the volume filled. Using plastic bottles and you're down to less than 60%!
And that looks a lot like the 1.34m³ from my calculationI've never been a fan of user-installed foam, for a long list of reasons. I'm told Catalina offered factory foam (which yours might be) but there have been many threads here about it getting waterlogged, and how to remove it.
This was what I removed from Daydream when we first brought her home. The pieces were tightly packed into various compartments, with the covers screwed down:
View attachment 175921
Couldn't agree more-- never have understood the preoccupation with unsinkable. Catamaran,vanguard, laser-- all positive buoyancy but you aren't sitting in a 6' freeboard lazy boy chillin' with your margarita type of craft either.I haven't heard people asking how to make their 17th foot aluminium fishboat unsinkable and yet stats show they are more at risk.
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My boat is only 19'. She has a cabin to sleep 4, enough space to camp for two over multiple nights, she is suppose to be MORC certified for self-righting. I would like to take her, at some point, offshore on overnight trips to places like Bimini or Dry Tortugas. Having a little positive buoyancy where there isn't enough room for a life raft, would be nice. I've been aboard a 56' sailboat that was buried briefly by a single wave. Small light boats bob over waves better than large heavy boats, but breaking waves will swamp them.Personally I don't really get the need for "sink proofing"
Never seen an aluminum 17 ft production boat without built in flotation. Usually in the seats.Personally I don't really get the need for "sink proofing" flotation
I generally assume the crew is in charge of keeping it afloat.
I seem to see this type of question asked for small boats. Maybe it is due to fear and inexperience ?
I haven't heard people asking how to make their 17th foot aluminium fishboat unsinkable and yet stats show they are more at risk.
it's not like you are going to run into a shipping container, 2 weeks from land, in a C22.
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Interesting. Wasn't aware of that. I wonder if the rules here are different. (I doubt it since the USA is a export major market)In 1977, the Coast Guard established flotation requirements for boats less than 20 feet in length,.
I can see the advantage when it comes to confidence of crew if things go bad.Been around small boats all my life. Strong swimmer. If it was only me on the boat, I wouldn't be too concerned about flotation, but I have an Admiral, 3 daughters, and two grandkids. Also, my friends are not all Olympic swimmers. It is really more about handling stress and staying cool. People that didn't grow up in water don't usually react well when the vessel they're in sinks out from under them. I'd rather have the partially floating boat to work with while waiting for rescue - particularly if others are with me.