Re: The "Ra"

Bernard Johnson (slithytove@earthlink.net)
Wed, 12 May 1999 19:39:06 -0700


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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TillyLucy@aol.com wrote:

> Bernie
>
> Premier Products is a supplier of styrofoam packaging materials to industry.
> I am familiar with them as a custom molder of beaded styrofoam, but they may
> also provide bulk shapes.
> Thanks for the info. I did more research today with Dow chemicals. They Have
> exactly what I am looking for - "Styrofoam buoyancy billets". These are the
> billets used to make floating docks, ramps etc. I have located a distributor in
> Burbank. The billets come in 3 different cross sections and are 96" long. They
> work out at $7.00 cu. ft. and are completely impervious to water. Dow has an
> 800 number to locate the nearest distributor anywhere in the US.

> 7 x 20 x 96 55.00 7.777 c.f. 7.07/cf
> 10 x 20 x 96 78.35 11.111 cf 7.05/cf
> 10 x 24 x 96 93.35 13.333 cf 7.00/cf
>
> further info. www.dow.com 800 258 2436 general info
> 800 441 4369 - styrofoam buoyancy billets

> I did have one comment on your idea which I kept to myself thinking that it
> was obvious - If you cut openings in the hull of your boat water will enter
> when you sail in chop, through wakes and the like. The notion of sailing a
> boat with gallons of water sloshing about inside doesn't appeal to me at all.
> I think there will also be issues of wetness, dampness and mold in the cabin
> which would make it inhabitable. Picture yourself asleep on the bunk, a
> powerboat motors by and the next thing you know, quantities of cold water
> enter your sleeping bag.
> Dave, I wouldn't dream of having open holes in the hull! My comments were for
> illustration only. My boat already has a bilge drain and that by itself would
> do the job (albeit slowly). I may consider providing one or more extra drains
> in the transom (sealed with a removeable plug) to hasten the process. I am
> going to design the floatation itself such that it will be installed without
> affecting the structure of the boat (yet still be held securely in place), have
> minimal effect on the useability of the cabin, and be completey and easily
> removed in the unlikely event I should wish to sell. I certainly insist on the
> cabin being fully dry during normal use!

Regards: Bernie "HMS Pinafore"