TOPIC: floataion in Tomahawk

My Tomahawk Spirit does not have any usable flotation. The triangle-shaped compartment in front has been breached, even though I repaired it, I doubt if it is viable flotation. The two seats are wide open underneath and the drains ope up to them. I was thinking about filling these spaces with 2# foam. I was thinking that I could get a piece of 3/4" PVC tubing and slice it down the middle, creating a dome and install this over the drains to keep them open.

I would drill holes and pour in the foam and seal them afterward.

The boat is not a Barrett-Jackson restoration, nor will it ever be, due to some things done by the previous owner.

Thoughts?

Sounds good to me tudor.

The seats are air chambers aren't they? As long as they are sealed from the top I don't see why they wouldn't be adequate. I never want to have to rely on them but that is because I want my boat to stay on top of the water. If I was going to add foam I would put it in the fins. I might the next time I flip the boat (on land).

I am NOT a fan of foam. Every boat I've ever had with foam got waterlogged and eventually dragged down the performance of the boat. I grew up in boats and have spent a good deal of time on the water over the decades and never have I had need of flotation foam in a boat! To me it's more trouble than it's worth, and by a large margin.

Just my 2 cents, obviously worth all of that!

Frank

Ok, here's a "crazy" yet possibly functional idea:

Instead of foam, why not place inner tubes (or a similar inflatable bladder) in the front triangle shaped compartment, under the seats and up in the fins. Add air until they're full but NOT putting pressure on the surrounding fiberglass. They will never get waterlogged, very little if any extra weight, and if one gets a hole or rots, just replace it.

Just something to think about.

That is an exceptionally GREAT idea! Kudos to you!

Frank