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Ping Pong Balls
Bear with me for a second.
I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 |
Ping Pong Balls
You ever lit off a ping pong ball? They are made of celluloid, a
mixture of nitrocellulose and champhor. It does not take a lot of heat to set them off and they burn like flash paper. A bilge full would make a pretty spectacular fire. Tailgunner wrote: Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com |
Ping Pong Balls
I would think more like an explosion in quantity.
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message news:2pYFb.10091$JD6.9829@lakeread04... You ever lit off a ping pong ball? They are made of celluloid, a mixture of nitrocellulose and champhor. It does not take a lot of heat to set them off and they burn like flash paper. A bilge full would make a pretty spectacular fire. Tailgunner wrote: Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com |
Ping Pong Balls
Glenn Ashmore wrote: You ever lit off a ping pong ball? They are made of celluloid, a mixture of nitrocellulose and champhor. It does not take a lot of heat to set them off and they burn like flash paper. A bilge full would make a pretty spectacular fire. Very good point. Surrounding the fuel tank would make for an even better explosion. Tailgunner wrote: Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com |
Ping Pong Balls
Yes: Malcom Campbell used it in one of his BlueBirds, trying to break the
world speed record on the water. I saw the boat with the ping pong balls at the London Boat Show but that was many years ago. Right now we have better products like 2 part foam. To be honest, I did not "see" the ping pong balls, they were inside the boat. -- Jacques http://www.bateau.com "Tailgunner" wrote in message ... Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 |
Ping Pong Balls
Tailgunner wrote:
: I found a place that sells a gross at $20 ($0.07 each). Not much better. I : thought about bottles (free). But the deck would have to be removed to install : them. Next year I am thinking of replacing the deck so maybe. They are : certainly not flammable even with the caps epoxied on. One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 degree Summer day. Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact flotation? --- Gregg "Improvise, adapt, overcome." Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Phone: (617) 496-1558 |
Ping Pong Balls
At a dime each, it's cost over $100/ft^3. How about plastic beverage
bottles? Tailgunner wrote: Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 |
Ping Pong Balls
Jim Conlin wrote: At a dime each, it's cost over $100/ft^3. How about plastic beverage bottles? I found a place that sells a gross at $20 ($0.07 each). Not much better. I thought about bottles (free). But the deck would have to be removed to install them. Next year I am thinking of replacing the deck so maybe. They are certainly not flammable even with the caps epoxied on. Tailgunner wrote: Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 -- Tailgunner BS#232 |
Ping Pong Balls
Tailgunner wrote:
: Gregg Germain wrote: : Tailgunner wrote: : : : I found a place that sells a gross at $20 ($0.07 each). Not much better. I : : thought about bottles (free). But the deck would have to be removed to install : : them. Next year I am thinking of replacing the deck so maybe. They are : : certainly not flammable even with the caps epoxied on. : : One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in : during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 : degree Summer day. : : Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in : September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact : flotation? : Gregg, you're just paying too much attention. 8-) Well you might be right about that ;^) : I honestly don't think it would be that much of a change. Maybe if they were in : direct sunlight they "might" expand. Tell you what, I'll ask one of our scientists : here at work (WHOI) and see what they think and report back. I only ask because I've seen closed, empty plastic bottles puff up in the sunlight. : : : --- Gregg : "Improvise, adapt, overcome." : : Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics : Phone: (617) 496-1558 : : -- : Tailgunner -- --- Gregg "Improvise, adapt, overcome." Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Phone: (617) 496-1558 |
Ping Pong Balls
Gregg Germain wrote: Tailgunner wrote: : I found a place that sells a gross at $20 ($0.07 each). Not much better. I : thought about bottles (free). But the deck would have to be removed to install : them. Next year I am thinking of replacing the deck so maybe. They are : certainly not flammable even with the caps epoxied on. One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 degree Summer day. Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact flotation? Gregg, you're just paying too much attention. 8-) I honestly don't think it would be that much of a change. Maybe if they were in direct sunlight they "might" expand. Tell you what, I'll ask one of our scientists here at work (WHOI) and see what they think and report back. --- Gregg "Improvise, adapt, overcome." Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Phone: (617) 496-1558 -- Tailgunner |
Ping Pong Balls
The US Navy played with this back in the early '60s for ship salvage but
soon switched to pour-in-place foam. I realize your referring to using pingpong balls for reserve floation.. The total volume of these balls would not be efficient.. Balls don't stack efficiently.. Foam is much more efficient. You mentioned something about the bilges.. Your floation shouldn't be in the bilge for a couple reasons.. 1) If the boat fills with water and your reserve bouyancy is low in the bilge, the boat will capsize.. 2) Filling the bilge with anything eliminates volume where bilge water would normally accumulate until the pumps can remove it. Without that volume for the water accumulation, every bucket of water that comes down the hatch accumulates on the cabin sole or in the lockers. (shallow bilges is another topic). -- My opinion and experience. FWIW Steve s/v Good Intentions |
Ping Pong Balls
Steve wrote: The US Navy played with this back in the early '60s for ship salvage but soon switched to pour-in-place foam. I realize your referring to using pingpong balls for reserve floation.. The total volume of these balls would not be efficient.. Balls don't stack efficiently.. Foam is much more efficient. You mentioned something about the bilges.. Your floation shouldn't be in the bilge for a couple reasons.. 1) If the boat fills with water and your reserve bouyancy is low in the bilge, the boat will capsize.. 2) Filling the bilge with anything eliminates volume where bilge water would normally accumulate until the pumps can remove it. Without that volume for the water accumulation, every bucket of water that comes down the hatch accumulates on the cabin sole or in the lockers. (shallow bilges is another topic). -- My opinion and experience. FWIW I used the word "bilges" more for demonstration than actuality. Should have said "between decks" perhaps. I have a '73 Aquasport hull. From what I have seen w/o removing the whole deck, there is very little floatation at all. Steve s/v Good Intentions -- Tailgunner Idiot#1 BS#232 '90 FLSTC "X-Girth" - For Sale Just cause it's nasty don't mean that it's bad |
Ping Pong Balls
Tailgunner wrote in message ...
Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? We had a rather long discussion about a year ago, do a google search. I think the general concencus was that there are much better, cheaper, safer, etc.. ways to do this. The "Safety standards for backyard boat builders": http://www.uscg.mil/d8/mso/louisvill...bp16761_3b.pdf gives you a good starting place. Scotty |
Ping Pong Balls
Try taking a plastic down to 100' under water then filling it with air
from your regulator and closing the cap. It certainly does 'puff up' when you return it to the surface. BTW - So does a diver if they forget to exhale on the way up 8-( If I have an empty bottle in the back seat over a winter's night I can hear it cracking as the car heats up and the air inside expands. Pirate_Dave -- In article , Gregg Germain wrote: Tailgunner wrote: : Gregg Germain wrote: : Tailgunner wrote: : : : I found a place that sells a gross at $20 ($0.07 each). Not much better. I : : thought about bottles (free). But the deck would have to be removed to install : : them. Next year I am thinking of replacing the deck so maybe. They are : : certainly not flammable even with the caps epoxied on. : : One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in : during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 : degree Summer day. : : Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in : September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact : flotation? : Gregg, you're just paying too much attention. 8-) Well you might be right about that ;^) : I honestly don't think it would be that much of a change. Maybe if they were in : direct sunlight they "might" expand. Tell you what, I'll ask one of our scientists : here at work (WHOI) and see what they think and report back. I only ask because I've seen closed, empty plastic bottles puff up in the sunlight. : : : --- Gregg : "Improvise, adapt, overcome." : : Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics : Phone: (617) 496-1558 : : -- : Tailgunner |
Ping Pong Balls
foam peanuts might be better although they will soak up water if submerged
for long periods. I once bought a beat up second hand fibreglass canoe which had the small flotation compartments at the ends drilled open and the foam inside dissolved out in order to sink the canoe under the water of a remote lake over the winter so it would be hidden from vandals and at the same time would not have to be flown out to civilization at the end of each season. I poured foam peanuts into the floatation chambers and bunged the holes with corks. I would not recommend it for areas that could be continuously wet. Tailgunner ) writes: Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
Ping Pong Balls
At one time, I purchased a Canadian sailboat (Wayfarer) and it lacked proper
flotation to pass the muster in Illinois in the States. The prior owner made up the needed add-in flotation by placing sealed soda pop bottles in the forward and rear hatched areas. He was careful to only use screw-on type caps. regards, RichG http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners |
Ping Pong Balls
Tailgunner wrote:
Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 Why not use soda bottles? Not as flammable, cheaper(if you want to go to the recycling center) and will flow water just as well. -- Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. |
Ping Pong Balls
toooo expensive, ping pong balls, if you want floatation for hard to get
or fill spots, goto home depot or, Lowe's home outlet, buy the isolating foam in a can for winter insulation, this stuff is cheap, fills holes, works great in boats. I have used it over 25 yrs. the stuff is floatation besides a great sealer. I also used it in a hydro, that flipped at over 90mph, the electronics that we buried, in that stuff, never even got wet. "Tailgunner" wrote in message ... Bear with me for a second. I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? -- Tailgunner BS#232 |
Ping Pong Balls
I have a friend that designs plastic bottles for a living. He says the
bottles are proof tested to three atmospheres pressure. I don't think you could develop anywhere near that with a temp change. Using my old thermodynamics formulas, and it's been a while since I did so I could be wrong, but I seem to remember: PV=nRT, and for these purposes let's throw out V, R, and n since they don't vary a lot if at all. So P is proportional to T, and when measuring T you have to use absolute temp (-273 Celsius IIRC). So assume a start temp of 32 F or 0 C (273 absolute) and a max temp of 100 F or38 C (311 absolute), and thus a pressure differential of 311/273 or 1.14. So sorry, it's not enough to make a loud noise, just the small crackly ones. Matt In article , Gregg Germain wrote: Tailgunner wrote: : Gregg Germain wrote: : Tailgunner wrote: : : : I found a place that sells a gross at $20 ($0.07 each). Not much better. I : : thought about bottles (free). But the deck would have to be removed to install : : them. Next year I am thinking of replacing the deck so maybe. They are : : certainly not flammable even with the caps epoxied on. : : One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in : during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 : degree Summer day. : : Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in : September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact : flotation? |
Ping Pong Balls
On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:02:26 -0800, "Steve" wrote:
The US Navy played with this back in the early '60s for ship salvage but soon switched to pour-in-place foam. The idea is older than that. Ca. 1950, a Tugboat Annie story in the fiction supplement of the Boston Globe concerned a salvage job where a sunken vessel was raised by filling it with pingpong balls. :-) Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a "Never eat more in a single day than your head weighs." --Jim Harrison |
Ping Pong Balls
Wonder no longer: soda cans and plastic soda bottles are favorites for
stress testing in engineering schools. Either of these modern marvels can take high multiples of the pressure rise noted when going from coldest Antarctic to hottest Oklahoma. It wouldn't do to deprive the American public of its taste for gassy soda, or to have explosions en route. Brian W On 23 Dec 2003 11:15:31 -0400, Gregg Germain wrote: One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 degree Summer day. Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact flotation? --- Gregg "Improvise, adapt, overcome." Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Phone: (617) 496-1558 |
Ping Pong Balls
On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 21:20:55 +0000, Dave Cannell
wrote something .......and in reply I say!: Isn't that just the kinks popping out from when it contracted in the first place? If I have an empty bottle in the back seat over a winter's night I can hear it cracking as the car heats up and the air inside expands. Pirate_Dave ************************************************** ** sorry remove ns from my header address to reply via email I was frightened by the idea of a conspiracy that was causing it all. But then I was terrified that maybe there was no plan, really. Is this unpleasant mess all a mistake? |
Ping Pong Balls
If someone was worried about it, but wanted removable flotation, then why
not pour 2-part urethane flotation foam into the plastic pop bottles? Just trim the ooze, screw on the cap, and I think it would last just about forever underwater. Needs to be poked through a deck plate and the deck plate needs to be good enough quality to stay closed under impact. Brian -- My boat project: http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass "Brian Whatcott" wrote in message ... Wonder no longer: soda cans and plastic soda bottles are favorites for stress testing in engineering schools. Either of these modern marvels can take high multiples of the pressure rise noted when going from coldest Antarctic to hottest Oklahoma. It wouldn't do to deprive the American public of its taste for gassy soda, or to have explosions en route. Brian W On 23 Dec 2003 11:15:31 -0400, Gregg Germain wrote: One has to wonder what happens to the bottles if you put them in during a chilly spring day, and then the seasons change and it's a 95 degree Summer day. Or vice versa....if you put them in on a hot day, what happens in September or October. Do the bottles crush some? Does that imact flotation? --- Gregg "Improvise, adapt, overcome." Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Phone: (617) 496-1558 |
Ping Pong Balls
Tailgunner wrote:
: Bear with me for a second. : I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. : However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. : It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in : the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. : Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? There was a magazine article a few years back something to the effect of "Klepper, the NATO Kayak". In that article they mention using mesh bags filled with ping-pong balls for floation because it cannot be deflated by a single shot. For our scout kayaks, we used plastic milk jugs. -- John Nelson ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org (A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell) |
Ping Pong Balls
Dave Cannell wrote: Try taking a plastic down to 100' under water then filling it with air from your regulator and closing the cap. It certainly does 'puff up' when you return it to the surface. BTW - So does a diver if they forget to exhale on the way up 8-( On our deep sumbmersible they frequently take items down and shrink them. 16oz Styrofoam cups become doll sized. Of course we're talking DEEP submersible. -- Tailgunner |
Ping Pong Balls
Yup...
In article , Old Nick wrote: On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 21:20:55 +0000, Dave Cannell wrote something ......and in reply I say!: Isn't that just the kinks popping out from when it contracted in the first place? If I have an empty bottle in the back seat over a winter's night I can hear it cracking as the car heats up and the air inside expands. Pirate_Dave ************************************************** ** sorry remove ns from my header address to reply via email I was frightened by the idea of a conspiracy that was causing it all. But then I was terrified that maybe there was no plan, really. Is this unpleasant mess all a mistake? |
Ping Pong Balls
Okay, I just spoke to my boss who has a PhD in Physics. Don't ask.
Using Charles Law which states that under conditions of constant pressure and quantity, there is a direct relationship between the volume and absolute temperature for an ideal gas. Supposing a 20C or 36F degree temp range. 273 (absolute temp, zero scale) + 20 = 293. 20/293 = .068 That means there is 6% change. Plastic soda bottles can certainly handle 6% expansion and contraction. -- Tailgunner http://boat.nbrigham.com/ |
Ping Pong Balls
WaIIy ) writes:
On 23 Dec 2003 22:53:46 GMT, (William R. Watt) wrote: I poured foam peanuts into the floatation chambers and bunged the holes with corks. I would not recommend it for areas that could be continuously wet. How did you get the peanuts out the next year through little cork holes? They were big corks, but I never took them out as the canoe was home based while I owned it. BTW the previous owner had sprayed Day-Glo paint on the inside so he could spot it under the water in the spring. In case anyone ever wants to try it. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
Ping Pong Balls
"Matt/Meribeth Pedersen" ) writes:
... So sorry, it's not enough to make a loud noise, just the small crackly ones. any idea how many freeze-thaw cycles those pop bottles can go through before the plastic creases and splits open? do they get brittle at low temperatures? just wondering as I don't drink soda pop and boats go through several freeze-thaw cycles over the winter and spring in this area. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
Ping Pong Balls
(William R. Watt) wrote in
: "Matt/Meribeth Pedersen" ) writes: ... So sorry, it's not enough to make a loud noise, just the small crackly ones. any idea how many freeze-thaw cycles those pop bottles can go through before the plastic creases and splits open? do they get brittle at low temperatures? just wondering as I don't drink soda pop and boats go through several freeze-thaw cycles over the winter and spring in this area. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned Most Pop bottles are made from PET. Look it up. Degrades quite quickly under sunlight or temperature changes/cycles. Note that doesn't mean its biodegradable, just that it gets brittle. Sure a good condition bottle can hold the effects of pressure change due to temperature but not as a long term solution. I'd suspect they're probably a good short term bouyancy solution where you're going to change them regularly and they're not going to get significantly submerged. Since a Pop bottle is designed to hold high pressures in it's nothing more than a slightly ridgid ballon. Not good at holding pressures out - as they might be required to do if they get submerged. FYI I checked this some time ago when thinking of using some in my kayak here in FL. A 2 liter pop bottle at sea leavel pressure crushed before it got to the bottom of my 6' deep pool and so significantly reducing it's bouyancy. |
Ping Pong Balls
My guess would be dozens - but it's a guess. You could place an empty
bottle in the freezer each night, and put it out each morning. There is very low loading. I think you might give up before the bottle did. Brian W On 24 Dec 2003 15:26:41 GMT, (William R. Watt) wrote: "Matt/Meribeth Pedersen" ) writes: ... So sorry, it's not enough to make a loud noise, just the small crackly ones. any idea how many freeze-thaw cycles those pop bottles can go through before the plastic creases and splits open? do they get brittle at low temperatures? just wondering as I don't drink soda pop and boats go through several freeze-thaw cycles over the winter and spring in this area. |
Ping Pong Balls
Jeff wrote: (William R. Watt) wrote in : "Matt/Meribeth Pedersen" ) writes: ... So sorry, it's not enough to make a loud noise, just the small crackly ones. any idea how many freeze-thaw cycles those pop bottles can go through before the plastic creases and splits open? do they get brittle at low temperatures? just wondering as I don't drink soda pop and boats go through several freeze-thaw cycles over the winter and spring in this area. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned Most Pop bottles are made from PET. Look it up. Degrades quite quickly under sunlight or temperature changes/cycles. Note that doesn't mean its biodegradable, just that it gets brittle. Sure a good condition bottle can hold the effects of pressure change due to temperature but not as a long term solution. I'd suspect they're probably a good short term bouyancy solution where you're going to change them regularly and they're not going to get significantly submerged. Since a Pop bottle is designed to hold high pressures in it's nothing more than a slightly ridgid ballon. Not good at holding pressures out - as they might be required to do if they get submerged. FYI I checked this some time ago when thinking of using some in my kayak here in FL. A 2 liter pop bottle at sea leavel pressure crushed before it got to the bottom of my 6' deep pool and so significantly reducing it's bouyancy. Now that is definately something to note. When you say "crushed", I take this to mean that the volume of the bottle was reduced significantly. A flooded boat needing as much bouyancy as possible, would start to loose buoyancy quickly. I'm sure that I will fall in line with everyone else and use 2 part but I had to look into alternatives. Must be that Yankee blood. -- Tailgunner http://boat.nbrigham.com |
Ping Pong Balls
WaIIy wrote: On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 08:04:12 GMT, "Brian D" wrote: If someone was worried about it, but wanted removable flotation, then why not pour 2-part urethane flotation foam into the plastic pop bottles? Just trim the ooze, screw on the cap, and I think it would last just about forever underwater. Needs to be poked through a deck plate and the deck plate needs to be good enough quality to stay closed under impact. Brian Actually, if he put ping pong balls into plastic bottles, he would have peace of mind. Been waiting for that. Good one. Don Pardo, tell hm what he's won! -- Tailgunner |
Ping Pong Balls
Which reminds me of that epic movie about fishing: "Jaws"
A milk jug makes a handy dandy shark float (they showed) I think this even works in real life! Brian W On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 11:52:11 +0000 (UTC), Chicago Paddling-Fishing wrote: Tailgunner wrote: : Bear with me for a second. : I have been hearing about people using ping pong balls for floatation. : However, I can't find anyone who has actually done it. : It makes sense in that it will allow water to flow and not trap water in : the bilge. They should last a while and certainly easy to install. : Anyone have any first hand knowledge of doing this? There was a magazine article a few years back something to the effect of "Klepper, the NATO Kayak". In that article they mention using mesh bags filled with ping-pong balls for floation because it cannot be deflated by a single shot. For our scout kayaks, we used plastic milk jugs. |
Ping Pong Balls
Actually, if he put ping pong balls into plastic bottles, he would have peace of mind. Been waiting for that. Good one. Don Pardo, tell hm what he's won! better still put the ping pong balls in the plastic bottles, fill the bottles with two part foam, and finish with three coats of exterior grade latex house paint for UV protection. step-by-step website photos please. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
Ping Pong Balls
I believe inserting the ping pong balls into a soft drink bottle would
require briefly shrinking the diameter of the ping pong balls to fit through the neck of the plastic bottles. As a previous poster noted, this can be accomplished by taking the ping pong balls along on a deep sea submersible to a depth of several thousand feet, which will cause them to compress nicely, fitting through the neck into the body of the bottle. They would of course expand to normal diameter when you return to the surface. Each trip should enable you to compress and insert balls into two or even three bottles. Several dozen trips should complete this stage of the task. Foaming, painting and installing the bottles would of course be done on shore. The cost of hiring the submersible, mother ship and crew, at perhaps $100,000 per day, may make the economics of this option somewhat less attractive than a $10 can of foam from Home Depot. Unless, of course, you are working under a government contract. "William R. Watt" wrote in message ... Actually, if he put ping pong balls into plastic bottles, he would have peace of mind. Been waiting for that. Good one. Don Pardo, tell hm what he's won! better still put the ping pong balls in the plastic bottles, fill the bottles with two part foam, and finish with three coats of exterior grade latex house paint for UV protection. step-by-step website photos please. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
Ping Pong Balls
"Auerbach" lifted the trapdoor, peered around and
wrote: As a previous poster noted, this can be accomplished by taking the ping pong balls along on a deep sea submersible to a depth of several thousand feet, which will cause them to compress nicely, fitting through the neck into the body of the bottle. They would of course expand to normal diameter when you return to the surface. Try to remember NOT to take the bottles down too :) |
Ping Pong Balls
steveb wrote:
"Auerbach" lifted the trapdoor, peered around and wrote: As a previous poster noted, this can be accomplished by taking the ping pong balls along on a deep sea submersible to a depth of several thousand feet, which will cause them to compress nicely, fitting through the neck into the body of the bottle. They would of course expand to normal diameter when you return to the surface. Try to remember NOT to take the bottles down too :) as long as the bottles are open, they would not crush at depth. -- Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. |
Ping Pong Balls
"Auerbach" ) writes:
As a previous poster noted, this can be accomplished by taking the ping pong balls along on a deep sea submersible to a depth of several thousand feet, which will cause them to compress nicely, fitting through the neck into the body of the bottle. They would of course expand to normal diameter when you return to the surface. I would try heating the plastic bottle first to see if the opening would expanded sufficiently to admit ping pong balls. If not then I would look for some other plastic container, say cat litter jugs or peanut butter jars. Unless of course you are looking for some lame excuse to offer your wife for renting a deep sea submersible. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
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