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

How about a composite system where you use small empty bottles encapsulated
in 2-part foam? Originally I was thinking of a system like that using
ping-pong balls, but if cost is a factor the bottles would fill the space
much cheaper. I like the idea of ping-pong balls encapsulated in 2-part
foam, though. Kinda like REALLY big microspheres in epoxy. Might be worth
some experimentation.

--
Karin Conover-Lewis
Fair and Balanced since 1959
klc dot lewis at centurytel dot net


"Tailgunner" wrote in message
...
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

"Karin Conover-Lewis" wrote in message ...
How about a composite system where you use small empty bottles encapsulated
in 2-part foam? Originally I was thinking of a system like that using
ping-pong balls, but if cost is a factor the bottles would fill the space
much cheaper. I like the idea of ping-pong balls encapsulated in 2-part
foam, though. Kinda like REALLY big microspheres in epoxy. Might be worth
some experimentation.

--
Karin Conover-Lewis
Fair and Balanced since 1959
klc dot lewis at centurytel dot net



You can also "enhance" regular non regulation foam with two part. Pour
a little two part in. When it is set up put some blocks of cheaper
foam in the area and pour more two part around it to seal it in. You
could also use the soda bottles in such a manner, I would poke some
holes in them though.
Scotty



"Tailgunner" wrote in message
...
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

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

If the peanut gallery says that sinking an empty soda bottle to 10
feet will collapse it, then the same applies to any flexible air
container unless you want to put a tube in a tire/rim, and blow it up
to 15 psi per 30 feet of submersion at least!

Brian W



On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 20:12:40 GMT, Jim Conlin
wrote:

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

If your boat's 10 feet under, you're all done trying to float anyway.
Flotation is designed to keep a boat at the surface, e.g. hard to push under
in the first place (good luck) and hopefully to make the boat float upright
if swamped (if you've got enough of a boat so you have room for the required
flotation.)

Brian

--
My boat project: http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass


"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message
...
If the peanut gallery says that sinking an empty soda bottle to 10
feet will collapse it, then the same applies to any flexible air
container unless you want to put a tube in a tire/rim, and blow it up
to 15 psi per 30 feet of submersion at least!

Brian W



On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 20:12:40 GMT, Jim Conlin
wrote:

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

Brian D wrote:
: If your boat's 10 feet under, you're all done trying to float anyway.
: Flotation is designed to keep a boat at the surface, e.g. hard to push under
: in the first place (good luck) and hopefully to make the boat float upright
: if swamped (if you've got enough of a boat so you have room for the required
: flotation.)

Yep, I had a camcorder housing in my hand that was good to 30feet under. I
explained to the sales guy over and over all I wanted to do was use the
camcorder while kayaking and that if I was 30 feet under water I was in
pretty serious trouble and wouldn't mind losing the camcorder... he kept
trying to sell me the $800 full scuba enclosure...

--
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)

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

Jim Conlin wrote:

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?

Truck inner tubes would make great flotation. They are tough & could be
inserted into any odd shaped space, and removed for repairs/maintenance. but
they're not cheap either.

How about those styrofoam packing peanuts stuffed into a trash bag? I've used
this for flotation and they work well. Price ain't bad either.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King