Under the side decks ( http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass ), I'll
use cut-to-fit polyethylene closed-cell foam. All compartments are limbered
to drain to the bilge BTW, except forward of the bulkhead at the aft end of
the v-berth (e.g. the bow area is separate). In that bulkhead, I've got
drain plugs in the limbers. Inside deck storage (since deck plates leak),
there will be deck plates for putting the polyethylene in or out as needed.
In addition, I will be installing Foamular paintable polystyrene under the
sheer decks all the way around. This stuff is like a high density styrofoam
but is stiff, paintable, and will remain dry until the boat tries to sink.

Brian

"Jim Conlin" wrote in message
...
Just a minute!
Two-part foam is not necessarily a good solution either.
Some of 'em will soak water, getting heavy and encouraging rot and mildew.
They prevent access for repairs and wiring, etc.
THey're not cheap, either.

Have you considered inflatable items like truck tubes?

Tailgunner wrote:

Here are my conclusions regarding that long thread I started about using
Ping Pong Balls for floatation..

Ping Pong balls are not cost effective. $20/144
PPB burn real nice.
PPB are relatively fragile.

2 Liter Soda Bottles are cost effective.
2 LSB can withstand the temp changes here in New England.
2 LSB looses volume quickly under external pressure. Designed mainly for
internal pressure.

Both will degrade in direct sunlight.

What will I do? More than likely I will fall in with everybody else and
use 2 part. I'll just have to make allowances for moisture to be able to
flow from bow to stern. With either of the other methods I would not
have to do this.

Thanks to all that posted.

--
Tailgunner
http://boat.nbrigham.com

Uh, I hate to bust into this party, but a simple solution would be to
copy whatever those European yacht builders like ETAP and others use
to guarantee their boats "unsinkable"...or so goes the marketing
bumpf.

The best retrofit solution might be to stow the Zodiac in the cabin
roof, but that only works for short sailors, I think G

R.


On Thu, 25 Dec 2003 00:27:27 GMT, "Brian D"
wrote:

Under the side decks ( http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass ), I'll
use cut-to-fit polyethylene closed-cell foam. All compartments are limbered
to drain to the bilge BTW, except forward of the bulkhead at the aft end of
the v-berth (e.g. the bow area is separate). In that bulkhead, I've got
drain plugs in the limbers. Inside deck storage (since deck plates leak),
there will be deck plates for putting the polyethylene in or out as needed.
In addition, I will be installing Foamular paintable polystyrene under the
sheer decks all the way around. This stuff is like a high density styrofoam
but is stiff, paintable, and will remain dry until the boat tries to sink.

Brian

"Jim Conlin" wrote in message
...
Just a minute!
Two-part foam is not necessarily a good solution either.
Some of 'em will soak water, getting heavy and encouraging rot and mildew.
They prevent access for repairs and wiring, etc.
THey're not cheap, either.

Have you considered inflatable items like truck tubes?

Tailgunner wrote:

Here are my conclusions regarding that long thread I started about using
Ping Pong Balls for floatation..

Ping Pong balls are not cost effective. $20/144
PPB burn real nice.
PPB are relatively fragile.

2 Liter Soda Bottles are cost effective.
2 LSB can withstand the temp changes here in New England.
2 LSB looses volume quickly under external pressure. Designed mainly for
internal pressure.

Both will degrade in direct sunlight.

What will I do? More than likely I will fall in with everybody else and
use 2 part. I'll just have to make allowances for moisture to be able to
flow from bow to stern. With either of the other methods I would not
have to do this.

Thanks to all that posted.

--
Tailgunner
http://boat.nbrigham.com