more flotation foam or not?

[stinkbait85]

i am currently re-configuring the layout of my boat and i am contemplating adding more foam to the boat since i do alot of fishing in shallow,rocky waters. my question is will adding more foam to the boat allow the boat to sit higher in the water? or will i just be adding more weight to the boat? the only thing i am sure of is that i will be reducing the sinkability of the boat. please advise.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: more flotation foam or not?

The boat will sit lower if anything because you will be adding more weight it.

 

[stinkbait85]

Re: more flotation foam or not?

is the only purpose for factory installed foam to keep the vessel afloat in the event of a hull puncture? it does not have anything to do with the bouyancy of the vessel? i'm still kind of biased.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: more flotation foam or not?

If the boat capsises or takes on water it will reach a point of neutral boyancy and not sink all the way to the bottom. Kind of the same theory as a B.C. when you are diving. In some applications the foam is structural and provides reinforcement for the hull strength.

 

[5150abf]

Re: more flotation foam or not?

I build pontoons and we get that question alot,"If I put air in the tubes will it float better"?

The answer is no, they have the same bouyance whether they have 10psi positive or a 10psi vacuum, the only way to increase flotation is to increase the size of the hull or lighten the boat, as stated foam and air for that matter have weight so the boat would have less boyancy.

I removed the foam from my boat and never replaced it but I fish a river and am never more than 100' from shore and I have an alarm on my bilge pump so if I take on water I know well before it is a problem and the boat is trailered so if it is on the water I am in it.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: more flotation foam or not?

I am going to close this thread. I imagine asking the same question in two areas of iboats will not work.

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