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Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
By:Mike Savage
Date: 8/22/2011, 4:33 pm

: I will be needing some floatation for my new SOF. I'm toying with
: the idea of using bean bag filler, i.e., small balls of
: polystyrene. I figure I could make a sleeve that will fit snugly
: in the hull (perhaps from a fine mesh) and fill it with the
: polystyrene. You can buy the filler at Wal Mart. It comes in a
: big bag and is extremly light yet, I'm guessing, very bouyant.
: As the polystyrene cannot absorb water, it will retain its
: bouyancy as well. You'd also not have to worry about leakage,
: like you would with inflated bags. I'm thinking that if you make
: the sleeves loose enough you can push and pull them out of the
: hull to allow proper drying.

: Comments/suggestions?

: Sean

Hi Sean,
It would work. kinda. But even though polystyrene beads don't seem to absorb water, they do slightly. Stephen's point about the air gaps tween the beads is a good one. I had a polyS beanbag get wet, it took ages to dry out and while it was damp, strange green ick grew in among the beads.

Air is much ligher. :D Specially trapped in an air bag.
Leaks in an airbag aren't that critical, unless it's a big hole and that is only a problem until you grab the duck tape.

Mike Savage
South West Cork

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Sean D -- 8/22/2011, 9:41 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Brian Nystrom -- 8/22/2011, 12:54 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
StephenHJ -- 8/22/2011, 1:13 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Sean D -- 8/22/2011, 2:13 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Bill Hamm -- 8/23/2011, 2:22 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Les Cheeseman -- 8/23/2011, 3:35 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Brian Nystrom -- 8/27/2011, 8:07 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material *PIC*
Brian Nystrom -- 8/27/2011, 8:13 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Bill Hamm -- 8/28/2011, 2:15 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Brian Nystrom -- 8/28/2011, 8:30 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Bill Hamm -- 8/29/2011, 2:04 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Mike Savage -- 8/22/2011, 4:33 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Tony Ling -- 8/23/2011, 11:38 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material *PIC*
peterchech -- 8/23/2011, 12:09 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Bill Hamm -- 8/23/2011, 1:40 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Sean D -- 8/23/2011, 2:15 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Bill Hamm -- 8/23/2011, 2:45 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
peterchech -- 8/23/2011, 3:17 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Bill Hamm -- 8/23/2011, 3:27 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Sean D -- 8/23/2011, 1:49 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Tony Ling -- 8/23/2011, 2:13 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Will N To Go -- 8/23/2011, 3:50 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Alternative flotation material
Mike Savage -- 8/24/2011, 8:09 am