Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

[matantiques]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

I have been reading the various posts regarding the use of plastic bottles for floatation. Sounds like a really in-expensive trick. Could a combination of both soda bottles imbedded in the foam work? Seems that you would use less foam and provide a leak protction for the bottles this way as well as stopping any noise these bottles would make rolling under the floor. Since I live in South Florida, cold temperatures would not be a problem but excessivly hot ones would. Could the heat make a difference if the bottles were to be imbedded in the foam? How would the plastic ball react under the same temps??<br />Oh, one more thing.............GO MARLINS!!!!!!!!

 

[oddjob]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

The HDPE will build up a static charge. Thats a good point and the vibration would forever create low amp voltage...I think.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

in regard to the blow up dolls, in northern climes the inflatable sheep are often discounted at tremedous savings, however, down south they are often more expensive than the human models<br /><br />especially the reel purdy models!<br /><br />

 

[Uncle Dave]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Indeed replacing foam with anything but foam is very pennywise but pound foolish. Most boats use the foam as part of the structure, particular the flooring and side walls. Besides I doubt if ping pong balls would be cheaper than foam.<br />One option would be to reuse some of the old foam that was removed. Most of my removal has chunks the sise of basketballs. Good 2 part foam may be wet on the exterior but will not usually "take up" water. If it is not wet then imbed it into the new foam.<br /><br />I would not want my last life line link to be pop bottles.<br />Fitz.

 

[catfish1]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

ndemge, for some reason you are trying to convince me that there's nothing wrong with using ping pong balls. and maybe there's not! but i read the link that clearly says that polyethylene balls (which are the more expensive ones) will have "less" stress cracks when exposed to cold temperatures. "less" being the key term! as we both know your not going to shoot fireworks from the ping pong balls, but you "will" have to count on them to keep you and your boat from sinking. i understand what you say about how strong polyethylene is but... your talking about two completely different structures. one is a fairly thick tube, open on one end. and the other is a thin closed cell ball.

 

[1965MT]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

I have used these in an industrial application similar to the example given. They are somewhat pricey, but that is not the point. There are two issues that I, like others, am struglling with and assuming that money is no object, what is the best solution? Airtight voids are preferrable from a longevity but then you get the Titanic syndrome. Foam solves that but leaves you open for water retention that could promote gelcoat blisters and wood rot. The criteria is to have a boat that floats long enough to be rescued before sinking. The only problem with plastic bottles is the perception that you are a cheap @#%$&^*. The problem with the blow up dolls is the perception that you are a demented @#%$&^*. <br />The plastic will last longer than you or the boat (that's what's wrong with plastic in the enviroment). If there is a hull breach that is big enough to allow the plastic bottles or spheres to come out of every void that has been filled with them is probably off the radar screen and should not be a design criteria. The air inside of these will expand and contract so little that it should not be considered. The ping pong balls would rattle because of the surface tension in that type of material.<br />I will keep looking for a cost effective solution. If I don't find one then I will either construct multiple sealed chambers or use two part foam.

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Ever try & put a match to a pingpong ball??? Be ready to drop it VERY QUICKLY>>>>those suckers burn like they are filled with hydrogen! Not what I would want onboard.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

No amount of savings is worth my life or the life of my passengers. Ping pong balls, soda bottles, cheap wood, on and on and on...<br /><br />Every time you go out on the water you are taking your life in your hands. Even if it is just a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.<br /><br />Here's a thought. If you can't do it right don't do it. Find a less expensive hobby or lengthen your time horizon for getting it done to spread your costs out. Right means using accepted industry standards. The way manufacturers do it.<br /><br />Just my opinion. I tell you though, I'd never ride in a boat with a transom made out of the wrong wood and filled with ping pong balls.

 

[1965MT]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Boilermaker, I am trying to figure out a scenario whereby I would attempt to light ping pong balls but I am unsuccessful. Can you en"lighten" us? Have I led a sheltered life?

 

[ED21]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Do you mean you've never tried to light a fart, set a plastic model airplane or car on fire or put a spray paint can into fire just to watch & see what happens?

 

[CCrew]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

I'm sorry... I have to agree with Ralph here. Ever see a ping pong ball burn? Probably be great if you were an arsonist, cause they burn hot and fast, and barely leave a trace...<br /><br />I dunno.. maybe I was raised wrong or something. Personally I'd rather spend the extra $ for peace of mind and use the best possible for the application. Not putting down anyone that wants to do otherwise, let me be clear as that's how some great ideas come about, but when it comes to the safety of my family there's no price tag I can attach. <br /><br />Just my thought out loud.<br /><br />-R

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Hey Ralph:<br />The 'main' idea here was 'better' not 'cost'!

 

[catfish1]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

boomyal, its been said several times here that foam today is much better than it used to be. whatever you decide to use, just do research before doing it. my feeling is you should go with two part foam. if you use foam, do it right, and take care of the boat, it will last longer than you'll own it. good luck!<br /><br />ps. if you do use two part foam, wear rubber gloves. there is nothing known to man that will take that stuff off your skin, other than time.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Jason has me convinced to use foam, and Im cheap!<br /><br />eh, after a while ya get numb, lol<br /><br />someone has it their tag line ...<br /><br />BOAT<br /><br />Bring Out Another Thousand!

 

[Snailman]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

Boom,<br /><br />WHOA! YIKES! STOP EVERYTHING! <br /><br />Just for grins.... light a ping-pong ball on fire one time. Make sure that it's on/in a fireproof container and stand back!<br /><br />They don't explode or anything but they burn bright, hot and fast! <br /><br />I wouldn't allow one on my boat let alone use one in the construction process! YIKES!

 

[1965MT]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

O.K. Not that I would or would not advocate ping pong balls, but I can't resist (the best kind of horse to kick is a dead horse,, the other kind kicks back). In this hypothetical fire that has been able to burn beneath the floor to where these exploding ping pong balls are located, where are you? If my floor was on fire in my boat I would be??? Where is the 20+ gallons of gasoline? Is it a poly tank or a metal tank? This is only speculation but since I have never experienced a fire of this proportion on a boat. What would the upholstery be doing? Waiting on the ping pong balls to ignite? What about the polyester resin? It burns pretty good too... I almost forgot the wood. My grandfather used it for fuel around a campfire (after the wood ran out he had to burn buffalo chips). <br /><br />I feel much better now.

 

[CCrew]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

1965mt.. They're right here...<br /><br />

 

[1965MT]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

ccrew, I see the upholstery burned, the plexiglass windshield burned, the polyester resin that the side was constructed from burned. How did the floor look? What kind of foam was in the floor? Unless I'm mistaken that boat has the plastic fuel tank in the floor, did it make it through?<br />But more importantly, were any ping pong balls involved in that picture...

 

[jailermac]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

I just ripped out the flooring and foam of a '70 15ft. Newman tri-hull. The friend that I got it from said that there had been a leak, but thinks that they fixed it. Well, after removing the rotted flooring that was still wet, the boat hadn't been the water for a year or two. I literally removed 200-300 lbs of water soaked foam, talk about the SMELL. I found another crack in the hull and fixed it. I took the boat back out on the water and thank GOD no more water. I want to put foam back in, hence my question. Where do I get it and how much $$$ am I looking at?

 

[CCrew]

Re: Under floor floatation? Ping Pong Balls?

1965mt, I think you miss the point. Ping Pong balls are an accelerant. You're just adding to flammability.. As to whether they were involved here, I don't know, but I doubt it. . This happened to this boat two days after I agreed to buy it, but fortunately 2 days before I settled and took delivery. Caught fire sitting on the trailer in front of the house, when no one was home. Totalled the boat and did $12k damage to the house. <br /><br />The reality is that things like this do occur, and would you like to explain to the insurance adjuster that you modified the boat with non uscg approved flotation? <br /><br />

<br /><br />-R