Buoyancy

Why is buoyancy important?

Boats without buoyancy are likely to submerge and sink quickly in marine incidents, leaving the occupants stranded in the water.

Correctly sized and fitted internal buoyancy will keep the boat floating, ideally upright, when it is swamped. This will help reduce the occupant’s immersion in water, reducing the likelihood of drowning, cold-shock or hypothermia. It provides the occupants with an opportunity to access their safety equipment, and it is significantly easier for searchers to spot the boat rather than people in the water.

Basic vs level flotation

The Australian Builders Plate (ABP) Standard requires that relevant new boats sold in Australia are fitted with either basic or level flotation.

Basic flotation ensures that a boat is fitted with enough flotation to keep the vessel floating in some form (typically upturned and largely submerged) in the case of swamping, flooding or capsize. In this circumstance, the occupants will be partially submerged in the water, clinging to an upturned hull and risk becoming hypothermic.

Pictured: A vessel with basic flotation can end up largely submerged

Level flotation ensures that a boat is fitted with adequate and well-located flotation, meaning the vessel should float level with the waterline, providing a safer place of refuge in the case of swamping, flooding or capsize. If the vessel becomes swamped or flooded, it is less likely to capsize due to the location of buoyancy under the gunnels.

Level flotation provides the best chance that occupants will not be submerged in water. It allows easier access to safety equipment and a greater opportunity to attempt self-rescue by bailing water from the boat.

While level flotation does not provide a self-righting capacity, if a boat fitted with level flotation capsizes, the length of the upturned hull should float above the waterline. This provides opportunity for occupants to climb upon the hull. Whether floating upright or upside down, it provides a larger target to be spotted by rescuers and a larger space for refuge than basic flotation.

Pictured: A vessel with level flotation provides the best chance that occupants will not be submerged in water

How to check the buoyancy of your boat

If your boat does not have an Australian Builder's Plate (ABP), or if the plate does not state that the boat has 'level flotation', it may not have sufficient buoyancy.

If your boat doesn’t have an ABP listing its buoyancy performance, examination of the fitting of foam or airtight buoyant compartments may be possible. Please take your boat to a marine industry professional in this circumstance.

Formulae for fitting buoyancy

If your boat has insufficient, damaged, or no reserve buoyancy, you should consider having buoyancy retrofitted. To determine how much additional buoyancy is required, you need to determine how much buoyancy you currently have.

Below is a calculation for competent persons to work out the minimum buoyancy your vessel will require.

M = hull and deck mass

K = alum 0.62, GRP 0.375, Steel 0.87

F = mass of machinery and fittings

D = density of buoyancy material (foam approx 35kg/cubic metre).

Formula for an aluminium

GRP or steel vessel 1.2 x ((M x K) + F) divided by 1000 minus D

Formula for a timber vessel

1.2 x F divided by 1000 minus D

Example for an aluminium vessel

M = 425kg (hull and deck mass)K = alum 0.62F = 135kg (machinery/motor)D = 35kg/cubic metre 1.2 x (425 x 0.62 +135) divided by 1000 minus 35

Amount of buoyancy required equals 0.496 cubic metres

In the case of boats with foam buoyancy, you need to measure the dimensions of the individual pieces of foam and multiply the length x width x height.

Example for an aluminium vessel with foam buoyancy

Our aluminium vessel has a piece of foam measuring 750mm x 400mm x 350mm : 0.75 x 0.40 x 0.35 = 0.105 cubic metres.

Subtracting the current buoyancy from the required amount of buoyancy (0.496 cubic metres in our example) gives the amount of buoyancy you need to add, in this case 0.391 cubic metres.

Important: If your vessel's hull has been constructed with a foam or balsa core you should not assume that this provides sufficient buoyancy. The core is fitted to provide internal strength not buoyancy. The material and its distribution may not contribute significantly to the vessels flotation and should be ignored for the purpose of this calculation.

Placement of buoyancy

Do not place all of the buoyancy in the bottom of the vessel. At least 50 percent of the foam should be placed in the sides of a boat (gunwales) and high in the hull so the foam crosses the water line and the boat remains stable if flooded.

Buoyancy should be distributed along the length of the boat in proportion to the distribution of weight in the vessel. For most small boats with outboard motors this will translate into these proportions: 50 percent aft (towards the stern or rear of the vessel), 25 percent midway, 25 percent in the bow.

Choice of material

The National Register of Compliant Equipment on the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) website lists a range of accepted buoyancy products by brand and supplier. These include:

• block foam - the most convenient way to fit buoyancy in a small boat
• closed-cell foams
• polyethylene and polyurethane foams.

Non-marine foams are unsuitable because they:

• react with metal hulls and cause corrosion
• absorb water over time
• may be flammable, or soluble in petrol.

Foam blocks can be fixed:

• under the gunwales and bench seats
• to the underside of decking
• against the face of the transom (the surface that forms the stern of a vessel).

Foam should be firmly secured to prevent movement and stop it rubbing against the hull. This can create particles that block valves and pumps. If the boat is flooded, the buoyancy may also come loose. Wrap foam blocks in strong plastic sheeting to protect them and keep them dry.

'Two pot' foam

This can be used to fill awkward spaces and provide excellent buoyancy. However, it should be installed by a qualified person. Be aware that:

• pouring foam into a space you are unable to access makes it difficult to inspect or replace
• it is important to accurately calculate quantities as, if used incorrectly, the foam can stress the hull and rupture joints. This occurs even if there are 'escape holes' as some foams expand in all directions.

Foam buoyancy

Air cavities can admit water if welds give way or the structure becomes non-watertight. Cavities are best filled with closed-cell foam that is designed for marine use. Air-filled bladders are also an option.

Inspection of buoyant materials

CAUTION: Ensure that any inspection of buoyant materials or vessel modifications are properly conducted so as not to damage a vessels buoyant performance (such as the voiding of air-tight buoyant compartments).

You should inspect the buoyant materials every 12 months and replace any degraded materials.

The following standards provide guidance about buoyancy for recreational vessels.

• ISO 12217-1:2002 Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorisation Part 1: Non sailing boats exceeding 6m in length
• ISO 12217-2:2002 Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorisation Part 2: Sailing boats exceeding 6m in length
• ISO 12217-3:2002 Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorisation Part 3: Boats not exceeding 6m in length
• Australian Standard AS1799: 2009 General requirements for small craft
• American Boat and Yacht Council standard.