Question on adding buoyancy to a Tracker Party Express pontoon

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by Glenn Shelburne, Jul 4, 2024.

  1. Glenn Shelburne
    Joined: Jul 2023
    Posts: 1
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: Indiana

    Glenn Shelburne New Member

    I converted the above boat into a CamperBoat. Using RV method of sandwich sidewall with aluminum frame. I guess you could say it's over engineered. In my calculations I didn't take into consideration the amount of weight added with interior items. It floats a little lower than I would like as it is designed to sleep 4. The Tracker Party Express is a fiberglass tunnel hull construction. With the tunnel fairing to a full transom. I have purchased 4.5 inch thick foam the same type that life jackets are made from. So in calculating the 40" x 10' x 4.5 I seen this as a 650 lbs buoyancy gain. As it will be below the waterline in the tunnel area. I have attached the foam to the hull and covered it with 1/8" fiberglass sheet material which is bonded together with 3m 5200. There is little room for water in this area but I don't want it to be there if I can keep it out. This type of foam will never be waterlogged. My question is should I just caulk the edges and call it good or fiberglass the sheets to the existing hull. I have worked with fiberglass and gelcoat before so no biggie. I just wonder if I'm overthinking or over engineering it. The boat will be on a canal with a speed of 10mph. Photo attached.
     

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  2. Blueknarr
    Joined: Aug 2017
    Posts: 1,501
    Likes: 450, Points: 83
    Location: Colorado

    Blueknarr Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum.

    You are way "under engineered".

    It sounds like you added foam to the exterior and then applied a 1/8 inch sheet material to it.

    If so

    It will be ripped away quite easily. None of it will remain at 10 knots.

    Your original hull is probably 1/2-3/4 inch thick.
     
  3. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
    Posts: 2,967
    Likes: 1,106, Points: 113
    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Fiberglas it.
     
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