Adding foam for more buoyancy

[Aaron&Julie]

We've used thick 6' pool noodles for maybe 8 years now. They are relatively cheap for a couple of 6 footers each. We put one one the inside lengthwise, but outside the scupper hole tubes, and once in place we don't even know they're there. They've never interferred with anything when stowed like that, including the times we've stuck 2 large whites down below, or many of the other times we've stowed 4 rods down below, when flipping in the surf is a possibility. If the inside were somehow to get flooded, e.g. a hatch fell overboard (happened once) we'd feel safe knowing those noodles were down there, and probably save ourselves, the kayak and the gear, too.
As yet we've never had occasion to rely on them, and maybe never will. But it gives an additional sense of security on the big unpredictable ocean of ours.
To each their own.

[Phatford]

Putting the foam would have the opposite effect if I am reading your post right... The foam would add weight. In an emergency it would displace the water that could fill your hull which is why Boston whalers are unsinkable.

[DanaPT]

What about just carrying one of these, I always do, but used it once.

It did come in handy when I had a "fail" surf launch. Had to pump water out of my old x-factor before I could haul my kayak and my sorry A$$ back to the car.

[addicted2sp33d]

It's Physics Gentlemen.

Dry Pool noodles inside the hull of a SOT kayak do not add bouyancy - they only add weight, though admittedly not very much.

Buoyancy is a measure of how much water your boat displaces, vs the weight of your boat.
"Floating" is where the weight of your boat, matches the weight of the water that you're displacing.
By adding Pool noodles inside your hull, you're not increasing the mass/volume of the displaced water, so you're not adding to the buoyancy.

If you want pool noodles to increase your buoyancy, you need to strap them to the exterior of your hull below the waterline, thereby increasing the volume of displaced water.

In the event that your SOT hull fills with water, the noodles will provide some noticeable buoyancy, but only if your hull takes on a significant volume of water.
By "significant" I mean your hatches are open and a wave came over the top and completely fills your hull.

If your hatches are not all open, there will most likely be a decent volume of air still trapped inside your hull, and that trapped air will provide far more buoyancy than a pool noodle.

[Squid Vicious]

Originally Posted by addicted2sp33d

It's Physics Gentlemen.

Dry Pool noodles inside the hull of a SOT kayak do not add bouyancy - they only add weight, though admittedly not very much.

Buoyancy is a measure of how much water your boat displaces, vs the weight of your boat.
"Floating" is where the weight of your boat, matches the weight of the water that you're displacing.
By adding Pool noodles inside your hull, you're not increasing the mass/volume of the displaced water, so you're not adding to the buoyancy.

If you want pool noodles to increase your buoyancy, you need to strap them to the exterior of your hull below the waterline, thereby increasing the volume of displaced water.

In the event that your SOT hull fills with water, the noodles will provide some noticeable buoyancy, but only if your hull takes on a significant volume of water.
By "significant" I mean your hatches are open and a wave came over the top and completely fills your hull.

If your hatches are not all open, there will most likely be a decent volume of air still trapped inside your hull, and that trapped air will provide far more buoyancy than a pool noodle.

.....what he said

[alanw]

Hey guys maybe the OP worded it wrong but I don't believe anyone thinks that adding foam inside the yak adds buoyancy while the yak is floating.