Positive Floatation?

[bdpvt]

I have a 1970's O'Day Daysailer which originallly had positive flotation in the bilge, under cockpit seats, coamings, and forcastle. Upon inspection I relalized this foam was waterlogged and completely useless as flotation and proceeded to tear it out. You would not believe how heavy this stuff was- 100lbs at least. A good tip for replacement are closed cell pool noodles. You can find them cheap at the dollar store or internet. Excellent flotation that will not absorb water.
Another idea is to use empty 2 liter soda bottles. Seal the caps with silicone and stuff in as many as you can fit. Even better flotation than foam and very cheap to do.

[TitusTiger]

<snip>

Another idea is to use empty 2 liter soda bottles. Seal the caps with silicone and stuff in as many as you can fit. Even better flotation than foam and very cheap to do.

Have you not been reading?? only Fifth of Capt. Morgan Rum Bottles. And the silicone would make it hard to open

[Friends with SCAMPS]

I'll do the water absorption test on pool noodles. That was an eye opener for me. One of the types of flotation that took on water was old kids life jackets.

[TitusTiger]

I'll do the water absorption test on pool noodles. That was an eye opener for me. One of the types of flotation that took on water was old kids life jackets.

Wow... I am amazed at both. Moreso that a Child's life jacket would be dangerous. I guess if I think about it, like the flotation you are replacing --- everything has a shelf-life, but I don't remember ever seeing that noted on any PFD I have seen.

I guess the thought that a dollar store noodle would be 'more' efficient than an old life jacket is pretty crazy too.

[Friends with SCAMPS]

So, it has been pouring rain pretty much every day for a month now. Sometimes all day, sometimes just a couple of storms in the afternoon. That coupled with a family reunion trip and I have not been able to do much of anything except THINK about working on the little boat.. There is one more thing about positive floatation to mention. The web consensus is don't use expandable foam. Even if one pays the big bucks for the type that won't absorb water, it can expand more than you calculated and bust your boat at the seams.

[JohnT]

There are alternatives to foam and Captain Morgan rum bottles. It is certainly possible to buy flotation bags in various shapes. The bladders from "box" wines also work. One of the challemges with flotation (or ballast) is to secure it so it doesn't shift. Anything bouyant will try to escape form its confines and float to the surface--by itself! Don't ask me how I know this

[Friends with SCAMPS]

You make it very hard NOT to ask...
I do like the wine bag flotation, and I'm not at all opposed to box wine. It will be a nice addition to the flotation party. I bet I could make a long sausage like net bag, fill it with things that float, and then just secure the ends.
More pictures when things look substantially different..

[JohnT]

I once assisted in recovering a sunken San Juan 21. A local diver placed inner tubes and in the cabin, mostly closed the drop boards, and inflated the inner tubes using a generator powered compressor on a pontoon boat (As seen on TV/ Hey Bubba! Hold my beer and watch this!) In our first effort, the forward hatch wasn't locked, the inner tubes escaped and floated happily to the surface without the boat. We learned from our mistake and did better the next time around after locking everything and tying the tubes down as well.

JohnT