Actually, it's not really the money that has me concerned. I'll admit that I don't know that much about float bags and how durable they are.

My concern is - I know there are some rough surfaces in the bow and stern of my stitch and glue Chesapeake 17 - will I puncture the float bag? (either with gear or with the sharp epoxy edges).

2nd - Given the hull shape, with the very narrow stern, will a float bag be too bulky to fill in the very end space?

The foam idea is more based on the thought that I could get some permanent floatation deep into the useless spaces far into the bow and stern and at the same time protect my gear from jamming (and being damaged) way into the distant recesses of the hull.

I'll have to take a look at some float bags at a local shop, but I'm still toying with the idea of filling the ends with foam (in bags?) likely with additional bulkheads (layer of fiberglass) to ~waterproof the space and protect the foam from gear.

If anyone can give me some feed back on float bags - I'd appreciate it.

Mark

>

> How much money are you trying to save with this project? A set
> of bow and stern tried and true float bags only cost $30.

> Larry