I notice that the brochure for the M15 says the boat has "positive foam flotation" -- in my 1981 M-15 I can see no foam anywhere. Where is the floatation foam supposed to be? If mine has been removed, it seems like maybe it would be wise to replace it. Or is it hidden in some secret place I haven't yet found?
Mine was also built in 1981. The area under the V-birth is full of broken chunks of styrofoam and the space between the cockpit floor and the hull has a odd assortment of larger blocks of foam wedged in. I concluded that since the underberth hatch cover wasn't fastened, the chunks would end up floating to the surface while the boat sank deeper and deeper. Rather than give up the storage space, I made room for a substantial foam box (compliments of Omaha Steaks) which I forced into and secured in the compartment. It not only will hold the foam chips under the bed but served as an extremely efficient ice chest - until I wired the boat for lights and installed a SLA in the box. I've never had occasion to test the flotation.
Hi Steve, Just so you hear a dissenting opinion, I removed the much of foam pieces from bow chamber and installed a bladder style 14 gal water tank in the space. The boat sails much better with the weight in the bow. I am willing to take my chances with flooding the boat with water. I have no thru hull fitting and the boat has never been close to taking on water. With adequate precautions, like putting in the hatch boards and keeping the hatch closed in very rough conditions I feel perfectly safe. A couple of the 12x12s had worn themselves down to 10x10s with friction and I felt that if really needed them they would float away. I removed two of them. I hope I don't hit a submerged container in the Bay! Doug "Seas the Day" Th --- Steve_McClellan@hmco.com wrote:
I notice that the brochure for the M15 says the boat has "positive foam flotation" -- in my 1981 M-15 I can see no foam anywhere. Where is the floatation foam supposed to be? If mine has been removed, it seems like maybe it would be wise to replace it. Or is it hidden in some secret place I haven't yet found?
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It's those containers and the oyster bars, assorted rocks, and—most importantly—the power boats and PWCs I am concerned about. Any of those could hole a hull. Not likely, but always possible. I have been almost run down twice by idiots in stinkpots. If it does ever happen, it would be nice if the boat sinking to the bottom of the sea were not added to my post-collision worries. Any way, Dulcibella has the foam pieces under the V berth and cockpit. They might float out, but they should be better than nothing at buying time for emergency action. David Fann M17 Dulcibella On Tuesday, January 1, 2002, at 04:19 PM, Doug Kelch wrote:
Just so you hear a dissenting opinion, I removed the much of foam pieces from bow chamber and installed a bladder style 14 gal water tank in the space.
The boat sails much better with the weight in the bow.
I am willing to take my chances with flooding the boat with water. I have no thru hull fitting and the boat has never been close to taking on water.
With adequate precautions, like putting in the hatch boards and keeping the hatch closed in very rough conditions I feel perfectly safe.
A couple of the 12x12s had worn themselves down to 10x10s with friction and I felt that if really needed them they would float away. I removed two of them.
I hope I don't hit a submerged container in the Bay!
Doug "Seas the Day"
I had the factory installed styrofoam in the forward v-berth hatch also. The stuff was all jumbled in there and seemed to me untidy and a waste of space, but I figured if Jerry M. thought it was needed, I'd leave it in there. But, I did reorganize the whole mess. First I removed all the foam, then with a little cutting and shaping, (using a hacksaw blade) I fit almost all the original foam back into the hold leaving a 3 to 4-inch perimiter around the hatch opening. I then lined the hold with some salvaged 4" square closed-cell foam packing. The pieces were long enough to hold the styrofoam in place, The 4" liner foam was jamed tightly into place and glued togethed with adhesive caulk. Now I have a usable space the same size as the hatch opening and have the floatation as well. I use the space for an extra anchor and rode. Although, I think next summer I may contert it to a beer cooler.
I left the big chunks of styrofoam under the cockpit, but added several water-wiggles, bungeed together, on each side. They probably wouldn't help much, but I've never had the opportunity, or need, to find out first hand. Don; M15-248 Happy New Year. PS; Mike and Kit, Mark and Roberta, Ian et all. With the snow pack at 155% of normal, we might even have enough water in the lake to sail this coming summer.
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Just so you hear a dissenting opinion, I removed the much of foam pieces from bow chamber and installed a bladder style 14 gal water tank in the space.
Doug, The previous owner had removed the foam from my 82' M15 and I haven't been inclined to replace it. I installed a large type-27 deep cycle battery in the forward locker, instead. I agree that the added weight forward makes a difference in the handling of the boat. If I decide to add some kind of flotation in the future, it will probably be a bunch of plastic milk jugs (tied together) that can also double as fresh water storage when needed for longer cruises, but will revert back to flotation when the fresh water has been used. Joe Kidd M15 #205 "Poco A Poco"
participants (6)
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David Fann -
Don Haas -
Doug Kelch -
Joe Kidd -
Stan Winarski -
Steve_McClellan＠hmco.com