Thread: LET RESTORE BEGIN

I am NOT doing this to start a debate/argument/nor upset anyone. I thank you for your input LOzark, but, before you go off and tell someone it don't apply to them, do some research please. There is enough miss info out here. According to CFR 33 CFR 183.101-335 Flotation foam is NOT required in commercial boats but are required in pleasure boats. Also it specifically states that boats UNDER 20 ft are definatly required to have it. It don't keep your boat completely on top of the water, but with all the weight in the tack, (stern of the boat it will probably keep it nose up. Now, if you want the liability of fines and anything else that comes into play, you do what you will. Are the USCGA going to check your boat for flotation foam if you get boarded and they check you out, I don't have an answer. Sink your boat and it comes out in the investigation it was removed, then you are liable for a lot more than the removal of your boat. I am NOT an expert on this by no means, and do not know everything their is in the regulations. I am not affiliated with the USCG. But please don't be putting false info out. Thank you Sir. Eric, AKA "jamesdean".

No argument here, but you can do anything you want to your boat without fear of attack by the Coast Guard.
Removing old mouse infested foam and not replacing it will NOT result in you getting in trouble.
But if you're paranoid about it then by all means do what makes you feel "in compliance".

I didn't mean for it to come out or accross like it probably did, but when I got this boat thier was no foam at all, nor were thier any seats. If you look at the pic's in the beginning of this post of the boat, that is exactly the way it was on purchase. I intend to put foam in it, so as SHOULD the unthinkable happen, MAYBE I wont have to fetch it off the bottom. In theory it works, I hope I never have to find out first hand. Today Momma left again for a couple weeks. Out running the highways and delivering freight. That's her passion. So I have our little girl, a brindle chihuahua of 5 yrs with me. It's been raining off and on all day since momma left so no work done to day. Everyone have a nice afternoon and evening, and I will see what comes tomorrow. Eric AKA "jamesdean".

Injunuity is the spice of life. I have a game plan for most everything, and not a lot of money at any one given time. I do not plan, as most everyone, to have this perfectly the way I want it the very first time out. Yes It would be wonderful for that to happen, but we all know adjustments need to be made as not everything works out to be what we expected in the planning stages. Things may need to be moved, or adjusted, changed to suit the individual. So with that said, I say good night all. Eric, AKA "jamesdean".

Floatation is there for your safety. A floating boat, even capsized, gives you something to hang onto until rescued. Plus a boat is easier to spot in the water. Extremely difficult to see a bobbing head unless the water is mirror calm. You are wise to add foam. There is a formula to figure out the amount of floatation required to float X weight. You don't need a lot of foam. Take a life jacket for example. they weight what, a pound or two and will float a 250 pound person. Mind you, people are mostly water so there is a factor to reduce body weight to floating weight.
Wood also floats, so if your adding wood, you are adding floatation as well. I believe wood is considered neutrally buoyant, it won't float more than it weighs. So you can subtract it's weight from the overall weight you are trying to float. A 1/4" thick 4'x8' sheet of plywood weighs 25 pounds. 3/4" thick weighs 75 pounds. I have too much to do at the moment to dig out the webpages...

Keep us posted on your progress.

Oh, one last thing. Water will follow the path of least resistance and more than likely it won't go in a drain tube down the middle of the boat unless that drain tube is full of holes. then what's the purpose? Leave the very bottom of the boat free and clear or everything and the water will finds it way there, and subsequently to the transom and out the boat when you pull the plug of fire up the bilge pump.

Thank you Hanr3, better explained than I was doing... If I'm not mistaken, and my memory serves me correctly, it's 1 square foot of flotation foam, (12x12x12) will float 60 lbs or 62 lbs. what the tricky part is, for me any way, when you have so much height at the sides of the boat and so much in the middle. I was never real good at anything past adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. you go throwing angles into the figuring and I'm lost.
So a square foot is equal to 144 inches, If I figure this right, then every 144 inches of foam equals a square foot, floats 60 lbs.? ok well I know what I have to do, and how much room I have to do it in. It will all work out in the long run. Brain hurts to much from trying to wrap around the figures...Weather today, as well as weekly house chores prevented boat work today. So sorry to report once again, I was not able to get outside and get anything productive done on my boat project. Their is always tomorrow. I did sneak over to wally world and get me a bilge pump, ( no install kits available their today), a qt of 2cycle marine grade oil to mix with the gas, a measuring device, a life jacket, and some other odds and ends, so it wasn't a complete wasted day. Well folks that's all for now. will update more later. Eric, AKA "jamesdean" In clarification, it's 144 inches of foam one inch thick to float 60 lbs...Eric

Good morning folks, I'm gonna try to get some done on the boat today. I have to go get me some S/S bolts, Fender washers, and Nyloc nuts to Been doing research on line and looking, wishing and hoping on some things. I have a question. Does anyone have experience with these low temp aluminum, almost like brazing rods. you use propane or Mapp gas to heat the area up and then drag the rod over the area to close small holes in the boat. There are some holes that someone put in here, like to hold the steel hinges in the bow, I want to plug permanently, and I really don't want to just stuff some rivets in there. any help, info here would help. this is an old boat and I really don't want to mess it up no more than it already is.
I know someone is thinking, He's not just going to throw bolts in their to hold that transom together...No, There will be marine silicon in play as well. I don't wat no water where it's not supposed to be, like in the wood to rot and do damage. Well I need some coffee to get my eye lids propped up this morning so I can get motivated to do do something , even if it's wrong....just kidding. But I do need that java juice for sure, and seeings how my sweetheart is on the road, if I don't get up and get it, I won't get it...till later everyone. Eric, AKA "jamesdean".

Evening folks, Well I did get some work done today...and some messing up to. I got over to Lowes this morning and got the hardware I new I needed. What I didn't get was 8 tapered head bolts fender washers and the nyloc nuts for them that hold the handles on the back of the boat. Came home put all the wood in place, clamped it down in turn and drilled the holes for the bolts. Only one thing wasn't right. the 11 inch board that goes on outside of the full transom board (inside the boat), was facing the wrong way. Upon flipping it around right, all the holes were in the wrong places . So if I had not of had to remake that board and then seal it, the transom would be together. But...it's not. Here it is minus the board I need on the inner most part....The corner braces need to be rivitted in place, and the rest of the bolts put in place and tightened up, but I have to wait till I get the last coat of Polyurethane on the back side of the 11" wide piece. Then it will be a bit till I get the seats in place. I have to get some angle aluminum to brace the uprights under the wood, then the foam flotation so I can secure the wood seats in place. But for now, there's thunder on the horizon and coming this way. Till Later. Eric, AKA, "jamesdean".