Greetings all - was wondering if people use positive flotation for their Sunday or Sun cats? If so, what works best?
-Mike
Mike, not sure this helps, but I do in my picnic cat. I use tubes from Optimist, some pool noodles, and a few bumpers. The PC is a lot lighter than the Suncat.
I jammed some opti tubes in my CP 19. Not sure if they would help, but figured it would not hurt.
Same as Finbar, I use Optimist flotation bags in my PC. I can't imagine using them in my HC, though, ha, ha! It's even heavier at about 2,500-3,000 lbs.
These were the cheapest I'd found. I bought 6 and have used 4 for 7 years now and they've held up fine so the other 2 are spares. Each one provides about 100 lbs of buoyancy.
http://www.intensitysails.com/flbaforop.html
Andre
Quote from: Andre on February 11, 2019, 11:31:36 PM
Same as Finbar, I use Optimist flotation bags in my PC. I can't imagine using them in my HC, though, ha, ha! It's even heavier at about 2,500-3,000 lbs.
These were the cheapest I'd found. I bought 6 and have used 4 for 7 years now and they've held up fine so the other 2 are spares. Each one provides about 100 lbs of buoyancy.
http://www.intensitysails.com/flbaforop.html
Andre
What is size of the bags. My 19 weighs roughly 2,000 lbs. and if I add outboard, anchors, line, canned goods, camp stove, etc., I might have an additional 300 or more pounds. Can you stuff 23 bags in the cabin?
I imagine that you could, but I really don't think it's a practical solution to put it mildly. Far better to keep a keelboat with a cabin free of water and upright!
I agree. Part of sailing safe is having your hatches secure.
V.
Best to keep the waterline on the outside of the boat! Don't ask how I know this.
Bob23
Quote from: mikehennessy on February 11, 2019, 12:07:54 AM
Greetings all - was wondering if people use positive flotation for their Sunday or Sun cats? If so, what works best?
-Mike
Not yet, but I have thought about it, the amount of positive buoyancy is not equal to the weight of the boat, equipment and people, it a percent of the weight required to keep the boat afloat, but doing the correct calculations are a little tricky and take time, a few links to get you started:
https://goneoutdoors.com/calculate-buoyancy-small-boat-8056787.html
https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/buoyancy-and-floatation-calcs.17717/
US Coastguard, see last link:
Subpart F, Subpart G, & Subpart H — Flotation Requirements
PDF version (1.02 MB)
http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/builders-handbook-downloads.php
calculate amount of positive buoyancy for boat
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&ei=TvhvXL6ZJYiUsgXOr7qYAQ&q=calculate+amount+of+positive+buoyancy+for+boat&oq=calculate+amount+of+positive+buoyancy+for+boat&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i299j33i160.285262.287692..287875...0.0..0.350.2083.0j1j4j3......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i39.xHUL_ouELDw
im guessing that if the cabin is filled with water shes going to the bottom. ive been told that my capri 18 has positive floatation. im not buying it. when I get into a good blow the hatches are buttoned down.