by Brett » Wed May 12, 2010 10:08 am
Hi!
I second the use air bags suggestion. If storage is important on the boat, bags will leave the most options open to you in terms of access to the storage areas of the boat. I've been a kayak camper in Georgian Bay for many years and my favourite kayak is a tandem with no bulkheads, but therefore no built-in flotation in the storage areas, so it will sink with all my stuff if I flip unless I use bags. It works well though; my camping gear all goes in good drybags, some of which are designed to fit the shape of the hull. The bags are then tied-in to anchor points in the kayak so they don't float-out in a capsize. They also keep my gear drier than gear in compartments because the compartments often leak. Some of the end bags are solely for flotation, and they have held their air for years. They can be topped-up with air through long tubes that come all the way back to the cockpit.
In the sailboat application, I would be concerned about the foam rotting and stinking over time, maybe not providing enough flotation, and most importantly that it does not give you the option of using your storage spaces like under the seats and in the sail locker if the foam is permanently installed. With the airbags, you can inflate them over and around stored objects in those areas when you need the storage.
With airbags, you need to inflate them if you store gear in or under them, so we use a rechargeable portable inflator. We get a few fills out of it. When launching near the car, we use one that plugs into the car. We have had to inflate them by mouth now and then, and that does suck, so that's one downside to the bags.
The other downside is cost; good fitted bags are expensive when they are purchased from kayak/canoe/camping outfitters. Consider the small bags that pool supply stores sell for holding-down winter covers; they are cheap and would allow you to test the flotation with little expense. They are normally filled with water, but air should also be fine. They are flat and rectangular and come in a bunch of lengths, from 2 to 6 feet, I believe.
Maybe a combination of bags and foam? Or foam in bags? I'm going to consider doing the same thing in the locker of #273.
Brett