Floatation

[ajp]

I purchased a 1969 fiberglass deckboat that has no floatation at all. The boat runs great without it but I would like something to keep it afloat if it got swamped. <br /><br />Question: If I fill the hull with air-tight pop bottles and or antifreeze jugs, will that be enough? I could probably put in at least a hundred bottles. Cheap and easy. Would it work as well as styrofoam. Basically the same principal-trapped air. <br /><br />The boat is 19' with a 115Hp motor. <br /><br />Not that heavy. <br /><br />I do not want any spray on foam. <br /><br />Any Ideas? <br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Arlan

 

[Hooty]

Re: Floatation

So, ajp,<br />No spray foam eh?<br />Gooood thinkin'! Sure plastic bottles and jugs will work fine. Pieces of cut-to-fit styrofoam will work also but gas and oil will make it disappear. Some ome's used to put styrofoam beads in polypropolyene bags but I always thought that was sorta chinchee.Volume is the trick. An empty space between deck and hull is fine as long as it's water tight. The amount of flotation required to float your boat CAN be calculated but itz complicated so go ahead and stuff all those plastic containers any place they'll fit. If there not enough to float the boat and it sinks, It'll be easier to retrieve.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />hooty