WELL-PLACED LEVEL FLOTATION = A LIFEFAFT
The danger of "Positive" or "Basic" flotation
This smaller amount of flotation is often placed under a vessel's floor or in the seats, so when that boat then takes on water, the buoyancy (air) is under or below the weight of the crew. Air always wants to rise when it's underwater, so the flotation forces one side of the hull up, making the water slosh to the other side, and the boat loses all balance, tipping the crew out. All your fishing & safety gear sinks. It's a traumatic story we hear frequently, and it happens within seconds -- faster than it takes to put on life-jackets.
Why is Positive/Basic flotation used so often?
Well, Level flotation takes up more room inside, and is more expensive to build into a boat, so Basic/Positive flotation is used to keep space at a maximum and retail prices affordable. Basic/Positive flotation is meant to keep a compromised boat from sinking down to the depths. It just leaves the crew paddling and clinging to the bow (usually) until help arrives, so life-jackets are paramount to survival.
How is "Level" flotation better?
Level flotation is like a life-jacket for your boat. When the right amount of buoyancy is used in the right place, it will keep a flooded vessel, full of crew and equipment, balanced and safe. Kapten Boat Collars do this by placing the flotation around the outside of your vessel, giving it a life-raft quality that's similar to an inflatable boat, while taking up no room inside your boat.
All commercial boats in Australia must have level flotation by law, because it gives the crew of a swamped boat the best chance of avoiding injuries & exposures, like hypothermia, but also allows them a chance to motor ashore to safety.
BOAT COLLAR FLOOD TESTS
At the end of this flood test, the crew of three were able to motor all the way to shore, with the bungs still out! In a serious situation, this ability could be a lifesaver.
Flood testing a 3 metre Polycraft Tuff Tender for commercial survey. Other than the 3 people, there are weights on the floor, so that the boat passed for 315kg.
The first thing Alyssa and Bryce wanted to do with their new Collar was conduct their own flood test. They got it so their 3m tender could double as a type of liferaft.
The stability of a flooded boat. One person stands in the centre and two are stand on the side, without any fear of the boat dangerously tipping.
After this flood test, Bryce was able to sit to one side, knee deep in water, and create all that motion of bucketing out the water, without any signs of tipping.
NSW Boating Incident report for 2017
Open runabouts alone recorded
- 150 Capsizes
- 35 sunk boats
- 37 swamped boats
- 1 flooded boat
If you can stay inside a balanced boat (instead of clinging to its upturned hull), you have a higher chance of survival, as you're not exposed to dangers in the ocean, or exposure to hypothermia.
HOW MUCH FLOTATION FOR YOUR BOAT?
(Maritime Safety Victoria website)
CONTACT/VISIT
Office: (07) 5441 3636
Mobile: 0423 499 047
58 Arundell Ave Nambour, QLD, Australia 4560.
info@boatcollar.com.au
BUSINESS DETAILS
Australian Patent # 2010201449. American Patent Application # 13/083,588 - Watercraft Accessory.
Marine Safety Innovations Pty Ltd.
ABN # 53 141 908 385
Australian owned & operated since 2010