Flotation

[Bertchamberlain]

Hello, I am planning to purchase a 1984 19ft Com-Pac with a bow sprit. How can I increase floatation for the boat? Thank you, Bert.

[Tim Gardner]

Buy 3 self inflating life rafts, stuff one in each quarterberth, and one in the v-berth.  When you start to sink, inflate them.  Seriously, You can't add enough flotation to make the boat stay afloat if it is completely swamped, and have access to the cabin area.

TG

[brackish]

Gut the boat and pour in about 35 cu. ft. of urethane foam.

Seriously, It's a sailboat with ballast, I don't think it is practical to try to reach neutral buoyancy.  And if you don't get to neutral you really haven't done anything. 

[AislinGirlII]

I always recommend adding used wine bottle corks - just one or two at a time as opportunity presents itself..and keep at it, don't lose sight of the goal, its going to take quite a while..