Posted by garry on November 06, 2003 at 14:21:38:
In Reply to: Re: Sweet Caroline sinking? posted by JimM on November 06, 2003 at 05:45:54:
: Without air-tight compartments or foam, if any boat capsizes or is seriously damaged, it will sink. Even a large wave over the bow could introduce enough water to make the boat unstable in rough weather and end up capsizing.
: Air-tight compartments are now required by US Coast Guard regulations for boats with passengers for hire. In smaller boats and all private boats, it's still a very good idea. They should be designed to provide enough flotation for the entire rig even when the rest of the boat is full of water.
: If the boat were seriously damaged by collision, grounding or structural failure, the air-tight compartments might be breached, and the boat could still sink. Adding foam flotation will take care of that problem, unless the boat is shattered into a thousand pieces! (and then the passengers would at least have those foam blocks to cling to).
: How's things in Palau? Nice to get contributors from the other side of the World!!
Palau's Hot as ever.. Life outback on the beach is pretty cool...:>)*