Positive flotation

[mikehennessy]

Greetings all - was wondering if people use positive flotation for their Sunday or Sun cats?  If so, what works best?

-Mike

[Finbar Beagle]

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.

[Andre]

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

[Vipersdad]

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?

[Andre]

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!

[Vipersdad]

I agree.  Part of sailing safe is having your hatches secure.

V.

[Bob23]

Best to keep the waterline on the outside of the boat! Don't ask how I know this.
Bob23

[Zephyros]

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

[kickingbug1]

   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.