: I wonder about the wisdom of floatation bags on a wooden boat. It's
: not to save the boat since that will float until doomsday, so
: unless there's enough floatation to support the paddler and the
: result is stable and upright when flooded, what is the point?
: With a heavy boat it serves to raise the gunnels above the
: surface for bailing but a boat as light as this can just be
: flipped and lifted out of the water, or given a good push when
: it will just leave the water behind - but hold onto the painter
: . . .

Thin wood boats float, not well, but they do float. They do not float themselves and you. If enough fiberglass and epoxy are used and the wood is thin enough they might not float, certainly not well enough to be above the water to where they could be bailed. Adding floatation is a really good idea.

Oh yeah, towing flooded boats that are fairly lightly built can cause serious damage to them, floatation is cheaper.

Bill H.