What is the purpose of the styrofoam stuffed in storage areas in my 1987 O'Day 222?

[Mich222]

G'Day to All. I need some help understanding the reason for the styrofoam that was placed in my boat.

At the time of purchase, my O'Day 222 had blue styrofoam wedged under the cabin step (crevice above pendant line/keel interface), and wedged around the 5-gallon water bottle in the v-Berth. Pictures attached. What is the purpose of this styrofoam??

 

[Texas Lake Sailor]

Many owners will place foam in voids or lockers trying to add "floatation" to a boat. Thinking this will make it unsinkable. Around tanks some folks add it to wedge the tank in place as opposed to securing it properly. Both are ineffective and give a false sense of security.

 

[jackhartjr]

Texas Lake...not trying to get into a you know what contest here...however...Oday put enough of the foam in the trailer sailors to allow it to float just about the top of the cockpit coamings in case it sunk. I am amazed at the amount in our Oday 22.

Mich, is that 5-gallon water bottle something that came on the boat?
Could you make a picture or two more to allow us to see the location better?
The foam around it looks like it may have been added.
Thanks
Jack

 

[Mich222]

Texas Lake and Jack:
Thank you for your replies.

Jack- The attached interior layout picture from O'Day brochure shows cubby where water jug is located. The 5-gallon water jug is located in the cubby (rectangular outline) - just forward of the toilet area. The 5-gallon jug placed in the fore cubby is standard equipment and placement on every 1984,1985, 1986, and 1987 222 I have seen.

I agree the foam appears to have been added after original manufacturing. The foam does not appear to be factory because the foam pieces are not uniform in size and have been cut raggedly. Also in addition, in all the other 222's I have seen, there has been no styrofoam.

Could the foam have been added as as insulative layer from the cold??

Texas Lake...not trying to get into a you know what contest here...however...Oday put enough of the foam in the trailer sailors to allow it to float just about the top of the cockpit coamings in case it sunk. I am amazed at the amount in our Oday 22.

Mich, is that 5-gallon water bottle something that came on the boat?
Could you make a picture or two more to allow us to see the location better?
The foam around it looks like it may have been added.
Thanks
Jack

 

[kendall]

It was most likely added as flotation, My old Portager was supposed to have flotation foam in it from the factory, same as many venture 22s.

22ft is about the upper limit for foam, and goes a LONG way to easing some new sailors minds. I replaced the foam in my Portager primarily because my wife was concerned with sinking, when I sold it, the purchaser cited the replaced foam as a major factor.

It actually takes a surprisingly small amount of foam to provide positive buoyancy, on the portager the Vberth, side berths and a couple small chunks under the cockpit took care of it. It does take some calculation to determine the correct amount though.

I wouldn't say what's shown in the picture is enough for flotation, but it may have been enough to provide confidence.

Ken.

 

[jackhartjr]

Mich, on ours the styrofoam is not cut uniformly either, it appears they used kind of scrap material, after all you would not be seeing the foam anyway.
Thanks for the update.
Jack

 

[Sumner]

The MacGregor 26's have it and it fits your description

not uniform in size and have been cut raggedly

, perfectly, but I have no idea what was factory or not with your boat.

I wonder if our boat would still float or not. We have added a lot to it, but some of what we have added would help and other items wouldn't. On longer trips we carry about 30 gallons of water in plastic containers and at the end when they are almost empty they would probably help.

We hope to never find out ,

Sum

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