My boat is a Micro prototype, not a Swift
There are different qualities of buoyancy foam.
The worst (but cheapest) is expanded polystyrene (EPS), usually white. Even if some producers claim their product is closed cells, the quality of foam is deteriorating quickly and it takes water. On my boat, one volume of EPS under the front berths took no more than 5% water during after a capsize, I could dry it out in one week, 3 buckets on 1st day, 1 tea spoon on 7th day.
Much better and not too expensive is extruded polystyrene (XPS), usually coloured blue (Jackodur), green (Styrodur), yellow (Isomo XPS). Weakness: dissolves in aceton and polyester. And impossible to use in most existing volumes without large openings
2 components polyurethane foam is expensive and requires openings to let pressure go, otherwise your volumes may explode... Very interesting to use in a rudder, but use needs a lot of care.
See the whole gallery of the incident on http://jamais203.detroy.org/album/09-2.html
Phil
Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)----- Original Message -----
From: Matt (forum-wanted@swift18.org)
To: forum-wanted@swift18.org (forum-wanted@swift18.org)
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 1:36 PM
Subject: [Swift 18] Flooded boat and now foam buoyancy tanks full of water HELP
The boat was flooded and the sealed foam buoyancy tanks have got water in them. Has anyone any ideas on how to empty them and does the foam absorb water i am hopeful the water is just round the outside of the foam.. Is there a bilge area between the hull and cabin floor and could this be flooded?