Badger, thanks for idea of buoyancy bags. That might work. The reason we tried to become a U-boat last year was water from center board hole was coming in under cockpit liner. Also, with the seas we had offshore, water was filling bow making us riding low in water. The bow will be watertight, the centerboard will be or has been fixed (have to test still). The amas do leak a bit when I drive the boat hard and put them under ( I know, I know). Just wondering, how do you fill the bags with air after putting inside. I would think a access plate in the stern of each ama, but would like to keep small to put bag in and then inflate. Thoughts?
Building/ upgrading a boat for EC2013
(33 posts) (20 voices)-
Badger
MemberThe fill nipple on the bouyancy bags is a bigger-than-bicycle tube plastic thread. I've only inflated mine manually. Deflated they would be easily inserted through a six inch access hatch, but maneuvering them through it might be tough, especially from one end of an ama. It might be easier to work from the middle of the ama, so that you could more easily position them, and retrieve them if necessary. Remember, you want them as full as possible, so they might be pressing against the sides of the ama. Anything sharp on the inside of the ama is a threat, although the bags are made of fairly durable rubber.
They have straps on the long axis so they can be kept in place (the straps stop the securing ropes or strap from shifting), so you could conceivably tie a retrieval line to them and insert from one end of the ama, then push it away into position.
DO NOT buy from WM (blue)... they are almost twice as expensive as from APS.
I also use the big exercise balls from the $5 and Below store in bigger spaces. I like the Holt bags for under the gunnels where I benefit from the long tube shape, the sercuring straps, a more professional look and durability.
Posted 8 years ago #
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