: Well the Little Auk is finished. It doesnt have bulkheads so I need some
: floation. Air bags are the usual but I am curious if anyone has tried any
: other alternatives particularly home made alternatives. I am just a little
: underwhelmed at paying $150 (say $110 US) for a couple of blow up bags
: (which is the local cost of these). I know that you cant put a price on
: safety but if there is an alternative I would like to at least think about
: it.
: thanks
: David

I built a yak using the sizes of Little Auk but a little more rounded version. I bought 6" air filled buoy's from Hamilton Marine for $7:29 each and attached them to the ends using the built in rings on the ends of the buoy's with bungy cord. I had to craw inside the yak to do it and it was a tight fit. This size buoy probably doesn't have enough flotation to hold you up if you grab the end of the yak but does stablize the ends which was what I was after in my application.

Much of the spray foam will absorb water over time, I think. However I did tests on the blue board insulation foam for houses and foundations and found that it vertually does not absorb water. I submerged a 1/2" x 1 sq ft piece in water for 7 days and it absorbed 1/2 oz of water. But I don't think it even absorbed the 1/2 oz because I had several utility knife cuts in it that held water in the slits. Even with that, when I layed the foam in the open for a day the 1/2 oz water weight was gone. I found that spray adheasive wouldn't affect the foam but contact cement would. I am planning on using this foam in my shooting star for end floation.

John