MacGregorSailors.com

As stated in my previous thread, I have found large volumes of polystyrene foam blocks in all areas of my boat, I know the factory put a lot of flotation in the vessel but I am sure this isn't it, can I please have your feedback on this foam, I would like to remove it because I think it may make the boat unstable if it did flood and to make way for some storage, I don't want to remove any factory foam, what do you guys think of these pictures?

Behind forward seat

Forward hatch

Under seat


Thanks, Dennis.

That definitely looks like PO installed foam to me. So long as the original foam installed around the cockpit coaming and over the forward berth is still in place, I wouldn't worry too much about removing it. The PO probably thought he was increasing the safety of the boat, but I think you are right in being concerned about stability issues. If it were my boat, I would remove it.

My boat certainly has no foam in any of those areas. I would check if it is the foam that is supposed to be above and below the forward berth before you dump it, if that foam and that above the rear berth is in place then I would agree, get rid..

That is def your flotation foam. Roger ingeniously got rid of his excess packaging material with every boat!

THE CUSCUS wrote:That is def your flotation foam. Roger ingeniously got rid of his excess packaging material with every boat!

Really?? I cant tell if you are serious, I'm guessing that line should have had a smiley face at the end of it?

That is truly your "flotation" foam, as designed. The second part is just my opinion. Keep it in there, and don't forget to drink your cool-aid.

Looks like the previous owner was paranoid of sinking. The V-Berth foam is probably factory. The cover should be screwed down tight to hold the foam junk in there. The rest of your blocks, I don't know, looks like someone found a way to dispose of packing foam after Christmas toys were unboxed.

Frankly, I don't put much stock in an unsinkable boat. Remember the titanic. Others seem to find comfort in styrofoam to keep their boats afloat if holed. Maybe your insurance company does too. If holed, I expect my boat to sink to the gunwales and me be clinging to a floating hunk of fiberglass. Best to put faith in PFDs and a VHF radio because I expect to be very wet.

My last 34' boat had no hope of staying afloat if holed and I live on my Mac with the same premise. YMMV.

--Russ

Something else to consider.

If there's a chance of anyone ever smoking down there, exposed, loose expanded polystyrene arranged like that is a flame-spread hazard waiting to happen. It would be contrary to codes to have that in a house (eg attic, or anywhere) in most jurisdictions in this hemisphere.

-B.

seahouse wrote:Something else to consider.

If there's a chance of anyone ever smoking down there, exposed, loose expanded polystyrene arranged like that is a flame-spread hazard waiting to happen. It would be contrary to codes to have that in a house (eg attic, or anywhere) in most jurisdictions in this hemisphere.

-B.

Definitely a no smoking boat, I don't even know a smoker, and if I did I would use them to trawl for sharks if I caught them.

I think I will leave the foam in the bow section, yes it was screwed down and remove the rest. I'm pretty confident it is not factory foam.

Sun - I noticed on your other post you just got the boat maybe customs searched the normal foam storage places and just threw the foam anywhere they pleased That looks like factory foam in all the wrong places. Open your little round screw hatches and make sure it is there or try to evenly use those blocks to replace it.

I was going to say it looks like the factory foam that came with my boat. (size and shape)
It may have just been moved by a PO. I think it would be kind of tricky to get it back in the same way as they did at the factory. Kind of like one big weird 3D puzzle!
I took mine out of the V berth. It met its fate at the recycling depot.

seahouse wrote:Something else to consider.

If there's a chance of anyone ever smoking down there, exposed, loose expanded polystyrene arranged like that is a flame-spread hazard waiting to happen. It would be contrary to codes to have that in a house (eg attic, or anywhere) in most jurisdictions in this hemisphere.

-B.

That's a good point. I imagine that foam is very flammable. Forget smokers, any kind of fire (from stove etc.) could cause an ugly situation.

Again, I don't understand the obsession with having a boat that can't sink. Is this really a safety issue? I've heard it is a selling point for some buyers. How many Macs have ever been seen using the flotation. I know of one that was "Grossly Overloaded" and still had other boats nearby to come to their aid. Another was due to overloading, no ballast and drunk captain with a lead foot. These are extremely safe boats with cockpits designed to keep water out of the cabin. Look at this boat completely on its side. Water can't enter the cabin.

I wish I had money to burn. I would punch a hole in a real Mac (with motor and gear onboard) and see how it floats in a real world situation. My guess is nothing like that marketing photo.
Most of us sail close to shore and nearby help. Keeping floating things in the cockpit is always a good idea for MOB situations. A floating VHF handheld is also a good idea. Whatever got you to the point of a sinking boat, I would hope you had your PFDs on already. Unless you are overloading your boat without ballast, I don't expect to ever need the flotation. With that said, for legal reasons I would never suggest removing it. /soapbox.

Its a tremendous marketing gimmick that has helps to make Macgregors one of the best selling boats out there. Gives the newbie sailor a warm fuzzy that his boat won't sink if he does something dumb. The newb would be much better off if he was instructed not to sail with the forward hatch open, the rear hatch boards out or the pop top open ( how many pictures do you see like this on this site?). Don't let the water in, in the first place. This "safety feature" is not a license to practice unsafe boating.

sunshinecoasting wrote:As stated in my previous thread, I have found large volumes of polystyrene foam blocks in all areas of my boat, I know the factory put a lot of flotation in the vessel but I am sure this isn't it, can I please have your feedback on this foam, I would like to remove it because I think it may make the boat unstable if it did flood and to make way for some storage, I don't want to remove any factory foam, what do you guys think of these pictures?

Thanks, Dennis.

Just to be clear, any hatch that is screwed down should contain the foam for flotation and should not be removed. Here is a picture from way back when indicating where the foam is.

While you guys have valid points - I like the flotation if for nothing else Salvage ability if the unthinkable happens. Be it a rogue wave offshore or a 60' Motor Yacht wakes you on ICW before you have your ballast in. Engine swamped, gear floating, what have you as long as some of the mast is sticking up, I want to be able to salvage my