how to add bouyancy?

[dustywaves]

Any thoughts on adding bouyancy to a weekender? What sort of volume would you need to float her high enough to bail out? And where to put it without losing too much storage space?

[ScottWidmier]

Put some up underneith the deck in your cabin. It gives buoyancy up high and added insulation. Also, put some behind your seatbacks.

[PAR]

It may seem counter intuitive, but Scott is right, you want floatation (additional buoyancy requires hull shape changes) under the decks. All of them, side, fore and aft. In reality, a capsized Weekender lays on her side, pretty high at first, then slowly settles as she fills with water. You'll right her and have the boat underway again before she accumulates enough water to sink. Also, in most situations, an air bubble will be trapped in the forepeak, partly enclosed cabin spaces, under the sidedecks and aft deck areas, making sinking like a stone very uncommon.

Bladders (air bags), water jugs (with the lids glued on) and built in floatation chambers (install an access port so it can be ventilated and cleaned) are other common methods to gain peace of capsize mind.

A few other things: in the event of a capsize (I've experienced many), the first thing I do is swim a PFD (life preserver) or two out to the end of the mast, where I tie them on to the mast head. This prevents her from going turtle (belly up and not a good situation)). Then I gather up all the stuff still floating or other wise trying to find it's own way back to shore (probably pissed I didn't drive the boat better). Release the sheets and untangle the rigging mess, while you catch your breath and look for gators (we taste like chicken to them, so hustle it up). I usually grasp the main halyard and take it over the windward side, while I climb up on the keel or centerboard. Just hanging onto the windward side will start the process, but it's slow to come up this way, so grab the halyard and lean back as you try to walk up the windward side of the boat. The boat will rise up and dump your soaking butt back in the drink, unless you're quick enough to flop into the rolling boat, as she rights herself under your weight in the leverage of the halyard. Sort out the rigging mess, get the sails drawing again (so they don't flog to death) and start bailing. It'll be about this time, when you'll wish you had installed an electric bilge pump and securely mounted those batteries. If you sail long enough to dry out, know one needs to know . . .

[dustywaves]

thanks guys,

the cheese and kisses has her "craft room" finished now, my part of the bargain is done - so now I get to order the plans and start building!