Will additional floatation foam help stability?

[dwhite1031]

When I'm on the flipping deck in my Tracker Pro16 aluminum bass boat it seems to really lean hard to whichever side I'm on at the time. Is this normal? Sometiimes it feels like I'm going to take a header right over the side.

I had the front deck off to run some wiring and noticed there is what appears to be the least amout of floatation foam they could get away with in that area.

Just curious if whether adding more foam (2 part pour-in) under that front deck would help that issue or not.
Thanks!

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

No.

Slightly longer answer, not at all.

The amount of lean is based on hull shape and weight loading. That flotation is only there to help if the boat is swamped.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

Even filling it to the gunnels with marshmellows won't change anything. Foam just helps keep her awash after a swamp. It won't add bouyancy or stability to the hull. It just might be a tippy boat and you will have to learn how to move around in her.

 

[oops!]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

floatation foam......does it help stability.

nope.

the only thing that the foam could do....is if waterlogged, add weight to the corrupted side.

if you add more foam....it will do nothing, as it is the hull it self that displaces water. on the front deck.....where the curvature of the hull is under your feet,,,,any outward or frontward weight shift will cause less displacement on the flat (stable) areas of the hull and put the weight on the curved portion. (un stable)

 

[oops!]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

Even filling it to the gunnels with marshmellows won't change anything.

baaa haaaa haaa ......love it !

 

[dwhite1031]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

DOH! That's what I was afraid of......Thanks for the replies! Marshmellows........I'm diabetic anyway......LOL! Marshmellows.....what a country!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

Yep adding more foam is just adding more weight and making you more likely to sink. But once your boat does it will help it stay at the surface.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Will additional floatation foam help stability?

I didn't even know they had water in Midland!