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Re: Kayak floats
By:Robert
Date: 5/30/1998, 8:47 am
In Response To: Re: Kayak floats (Dave)

Dave-

I'd suggest getting two part marine flotation foam. I work at a fiberglass shop and I can go look today at what's on the shelves). This is the stuff that the Coast Guard is currently requiring certain types of boat manufacturers to install to make boats less sinkable when swamped.

Watch out though, and heavily seal the surrounding wood because foam in bilges tends to trap water, leading to rot. Also be aware that you can have problems if you put it into a closed space through a hole. The pressure of expansion will break the wood as the stuff grows. Its easiest to put into a bilge, let it grow, then trim the lumpy excess with an electric carving knfe.

If you have your decks on already then I'd suggest making a mold, lining it with some sort of release (I'm on shaky ground here as to what would work - maybe sheet plastic?) pour a plug of the foam, trim it, then install it as a removable component of the boat.

Robert

Messages In This Thread

Kayak floats
Peter S. -- 5/29/1998, 8:49 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Joseph Veneski -- 6/2/1998, 10:19 am
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Kanzler -- 6/2/1998, 3:23 pm
Re: Kayak floats
NPenney -- 6/1/1998, 7:46 am
Re: Kayak floats
Wynne Eden -- 6/1/1998, 10:05 am
Re: Kayak floats
NPenney -- 6/1/1998, 10:53 am
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Kanzler -- 6/1/1998, 11:22 am
Re: Kayak floats
NPenney -- 6/1/1998, 1:54 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Dave Caudill -- 6/1/1998, 6:21 pm
Re: Kayak floats
NPenney -- 6/2/1998, 6:59 am
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Kanzler -- 6/1/1998, 3:31 pm
Re: Kayak floats
NPenney -- 6/2/1998, 7:01 am
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Kanzler -- 6/1/1998, 10:44 am
Re: Kayak floats
Nick Schade -- 5/31/1998, 3:57 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Bodnar -- 5/30/1998, 10:03 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Kanzler -- 5/31/1998, 4:18 pm
Re: Kayak floats
L.C. -- 5/31/1998, 7:22 am
Re: Kayak floats - Foam vs Bags
Mark Bodnar -- 6/2/1998, 10:39 pm
Re: Kayak floats - Foam vs Bags
NPenney -- 6/5/1998, 8:11 am
Re: Kayak floats - Foam vs Bags
Rick C. -- 6/4/1998, 4:06 pm
Re: Kayak floats - Foam vs Bags
Mark Kanzler -- 6/3/1998, 11:02 am
Re: Kayak floats - Foam vs Bags
Mike Spence -- 6/3/1998, 11:52 am
Re: Kayak floats
Wes Boyd -- 5/31/1998, 9:10 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Ron Wagener -- 5/30/1998, 10:08 am
Re: Kayak floats
Dave -- 5/29/1998, 11:28 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Robert -- 5/30/1998, 8:47 am
Re: Kayak floats
Paul Jacobson -- 5/30/1998, 8:24 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Wes Boyd -- 5/30/1998, 10:54 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Mark Kanzler -- 5/31/1998, 4:11 pm
Re: Kayak floats
Paul Jacobson -- 5/31/1998, 2:15 am