Sponson Floatation Enhancement

[Boatnut]

I’ll be moving my Penn Yan Cartopper project out of the way soon to make room for my next project- the restoration of a 1913 18’ Old Town HW rigged for saiiing. I was able to find some vintage sponsons that, with some modifications, will fit on my sailing canoe. I know that many restorers prefer not to reinstall sponsons but given that I will use the canoe exclusively for sailing, I’ve decided that the sponsons are a good idea. My question for those of you who have experience with similar projects is whether is makes sense to fill the open spaces inside the sponsons with some type of foam in order to increase its flotation capabilities.

 

[Benson Gray]

fill the open spaces inside the sponsons with some type of foam in order to increase its flotation capabilities.

I'm not sure how this would help increase the flotation unless you are not planning to make the sponsons reasonably water tight. Page eight of the 1948 Old Town catalog at the link below shows a sponson canoe sailing while full of water (without any foam). Good luck with the project,

Benson

Old Town Canoe Company 1948 | Wooden Canoe Museum

woodencanoemuseum.org

 

[Dave Osborn]

As you have stated, most folks prefer to leave them off. For some unknown reason, none, zero, of the sponson canoes that have come to my shop have been requested to leave the on. I’ve done a lot of them. I make them watertight. There is no reason to add anything to them.
Just be sure to finish off the ends with fairing compound and use a paintable marine caulk on the top under the outer gunwale and caulk the underside of the sponson wher it meets the hull.

 

[pklonowski]

Just a thought... If the sponsons aren't watertight, water will easily find its way into them. Removing that water will be challenging at best, and I would expect rot would start.

 

[JClearwater]

Attached are a couple pictures of a AA grade 1932 Old Town 18' sail canoe that I owned a few years ago. Like a dope I sold it. Should have kept it. It sailed well. The sponsons did help.
Good luck with your project - have fun.
Jim

 

[Boatnut]

Jim, What a beautiful boat! I hope that my project ends up looking half as nice. Matt