?Float bag Buoyancy?

[sspecke]

Ok here I go,
I was talking to some fellow boaters and a question came up about float bags. I paddle a playboat and we were wonder if adding float bags would help keep the boat from submerging as much when paddling bigger water or doing play moves like a stern squirt?
I realize that the float bags dont add any additional volume to the boat. So does the float bag help by keeping the "air/volume/buoyancy," in the back of the boat?
I guess the idea is its like trying to push a basketball under the water.
Ok I gave it a shot! Hope you guys know what I'm getting at!!

[JBL1026]

Actually I have come across this same question. As far as being more boyant like submerging a bball it won't actually add more bounce or boyancy to the boat since it's already enclosed in the boats inner area adding no more volume. What it does do is displace water from the stern of the boat which obviously helps keep water weight out of the stern keeping your stern as boyant as it was designed to be. Therefore when leaning back On the boats back deck won't sit down as much since the water isn't there. Remember water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon.

Thanks Eric

[GutIt]

Actually, unless you are paddling a boat full of water for some reason, air bags won't do anything.

Until you come out of your boat. That is what air bags are for. They keep your boat bouyant when you are out of it as well as increase structural integrety. Thereby reducing the risk of your boat getting pinned or crushing or wrapping while you are saying "I'm outta here" and backstroking to the bank as fast as you can before flushing into Hoosierdaddy Hole for an hour long maytagging! Airbags will also make your boat easier for others to rescue while you are doing said. I have paddled with a number of boaters down through the years that will not even attempt to rescue your boat for you if you don't have air bags. They figure if you don't care, why should they!

Airbags=Insurance Policy for your boat.

Now, if you want more bouyancy while you are actually in your boat to keep it on top of the water, simply fill your air bags with helium! Also good for a laugh at lunch when you huff a breath off your "helium bag" and try to describe your last run off that killer drop!

[FarPastGone]

Float bags displace water. Therefore making it easier for your buddies to chase down a pilot-less boat because they don't allow your boat to fill up with as much water (the room is already filled up with air in bag). Don't know about the buoyancy aspects of airbags, but boats can definitely still pin with float bags.

GutIt is right though, one of my good paddling buddies generally won't attempt to help retrieve a boat if the boat didn't have float bags in it.

-Matt