Why Do We Need Foam

[BOAT]

Split from this original topic: Adding Storage

What about the backrest in the cockpit? It's just full of foam, right? I was thinking of cutting access holes and covering them with padded backrest. The main reason was to get a winch installed on each gunnell (electric preferably) and for running new cables to the traveler car so I could move the traveler from the pedestal. You could run the mainsheet thru there too with just a couple of blocks.

Why is foam important in our boats? is it something we would ever use? What kind of a incident is the foam designed to be used for?

[Hamin' X]

[NiceAft]

I believe BOAT is successfully trolling again.

Nice graphics Rich.

Ray

[BOAT]

Okay, I see how that leak can make the boat too heavy to float. Could you put one of those compressed air rafts in the bow and just pull the string on that thing if you get a leak? Would that work the same?

I have only encountered two situations where the water leaks into the boat and makes it heavy and sinks:

Out in the ocean the waves in the storm were so big that Pete Severance's Cal 25 was rolled over like a turtle so many times the keel fell off and it rested on it's side and started taking on water thru the companionway. We had to tow his boat to get it back up right.

In Mexico the Patrick family lost their A23 on the rocks near Bahia Los Angeles in a gale - the boat was smashed into three pieces.

In either case I had not considered that foam would have changed anything. Perhaps I am mistaken. How exactly does the foam help? My experience has been that breaches to the hull are usually very fast, and very catastrophic. You would not want to stay with a boat that's getting pounded on the rocks or in the pilings - so why the foam? And a floating pile of debris in 19 foot seas does not seem like the place to be either. Where exactly does the "foam" kick in?

Is there a survivable scenario? I think I need to investigate this more - all this time I have just assumed I was a dead man if the boat crumbled - so I will survive? I guess I have not put enough thought into survival training.

[Starscream]

Well the 26X comes from the factory with three holes through the hull that are below the waterline either some or all of the time, with plumbing that is not up to any yachting standard, so there's always a chance of taking on water there. I installed a bilge pump that could probably take care of that kind of leak, assuming the motor was on for power.

If we were away from the boat while one of those thru-hulls was leaking, I'd rather come back to it semi-floating on the foam than resting on the bottom.

My fear with the Mac is hitting something hard at 20 knots. I can envision a crack in the hull that let's in more water than the bilge pump could withstand. I'd definitely rather the boat floats semi submerged on its foam then, it would make the difference between a good story and death. If I am holed at 20 knots it probably means that the water is calm, and rescue is a phone call away.

Out in the ocean with big waves, I guess the value of the foam is limited. There's not much to hole the boat out there. How about pounding through heavy chop and landing on the corner of a submerged iso container? I guess in heavy chop in the ocean, a semi submerged Mac floating on its foam isn't much to trust your life to but still better than nothing.

So, in my boat, the foam flotation will be replaced, and more, to make room for storage (back on original topic lol).

[BOAT]

Well, I want more storage too - but that foam is in the way. So this is always about storage - I want to have more storage and I keep running into foam wherever I try to make some storage space - so what now?

[Highlander]

I,t a Green sub !
J

[Highlander]

Well, I want more storage too - but that foam is in the way. So this is always about storage - I want to have more storage and I keep running into foam wherever I try to make some storage space - so what now?

Boat ,
I,ll take some fresh pic,s of my #7 winches mounted on my gunnels & post for u to see cause I,m such a nice old fart

J

[Starscream]

Take the foam out, do your storage mod, and replace the lost flotation with pop bottles or plastic water bottles in the bilges.

[BOAT]

Okay, thanks guys - I will do that stuff you said - thanks highlander for the winches idea - I like wenches, and you can never have too many of them but I really wanted to clean up the cockpit - too many lines doing in every direction,

Have you guys been on the big new superfast boats? They have all the lines going to one place by the helm and electric travelers and all kinds of cool stuff that I want.

But the foam is getting in my way - stupid foam.

So let me understand this - the whole point of foam is to make the boat float with about 6 inches of boat above the surface have you ever been in 18 foot seas? there is no way your going to ride the top of a boat 90% submerged in that kind of sea without getting washed off or held under for too long to breath. And if the boat is washed up on the rocks you really don't much need any foam.

If the foam is to keep the boat on the surface while I'm in the bar drinking I can see the utility of that - but really - I don't see that as a life saver. That's just more of a convenience from raising the boat from the bottom of the marina as opposed to dragging it to the ramp. A nice convenience, but worth the lost storage space? not really sure - I need to ponder that one. Maybe you guys can convince me one way or the other,

Why have foam?

[apsaunders]

To Foam or not to Foam is NOT the question!

My question is, What mod it BOAT up to next? I know it involves an area in the that has foam in it. I'm just pondering what he's up to. I have multiple mods from him, and yet here I find myself again with pen, paper and check book in hand waiting for the next one. Can't wait to find out!

My sits on her trailer when not in the water, so the FOAM has never been an issue for me. I've never considered taking it out, but I could change my mind real quick if..........WHEN BOAT comes up with another really great mod,

[Highlander]

was gonna post some pic but keeps coming up 502 bad gateway ?
J

[BOAT]

was gonna post some pic but keeps coming up 502 bad gateway ?
J

Hey John, the plan was to run the traveler control lines through the gunnells - I don't need to remove ALL the foam to do that - I guess I could run the new traveler lines through 2 inch PVC but bottom line was to have the traveler lines terminate at the helm sort of like the rudder lift lines - you know - a simple pull on a rope that is coming out of a hole, (there would need to be a couple of blocks in the background making all the magic happen) but that foam is in the way of places where I would need to place the new turning blocks that the new longer Traveler Control Lines would follow. (Sort of like the combination turning block I use to life the autopilot off the rudders) - it would be that kind of thing.

On top of all that while I am inside of there I might as well install new Genoa winches in the proper place on the gunnells - Genoa winches don't belong on the cabin top - those are just jib winches - (it ain't proper). -

[Highlander]

My aft #7 Lewmar winches used for Genny & or Spin



Pic above shows fittings swivel cam cleat & spin block



here in this block u can see the 6" access plate which justs screws out giving u easy access to install winches
also note the ratchet blocks on the aft stern rail seat post for the spinnaker sheets
J

[BOAT]

I can barley make out the ratchet block but the winch is in perfect position for a direct line to the genoa - I suppose the spring block on the track can be used to fly the genoa when it's partially furled. That just leaves the issue of cleating off the genoa sheet - I like to cleat off my sheets AFTER the winch. I like the cleats on the cabin top - I would like to have a set somewhere near the new winches?