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Hey Mike,
Was there a solid bulkhead across the front, effectively creating an air chamber in the front and blocking off the bow?

Ya it was a solid bulkhead before.

Hmmm.
May have to do something similar on the 15R to get jr closer to the dash.

Move the seat up!

I ended up cutting that bulkhead right out in my 15R on the floor and added something similar to what I did in the stv in that boat. I'm sure I have some pics somewhere I can send you.

Its nice now being able to get up to the front of I ever need to.

The only thing that is going to save your boat if swamped is that front air pocket.
I put one down and seen many where the pocket is the only reason you get your boat back.
One fellow boater learned a hard lesson by not having one in very deep water.
May also say your life as you cling to the floating boat waiting to be rescued.
Just saying.

I don't know of many boats that have a full height "airtight" bulkhead. Mike's boat still has the poured foam flotation that runs full length down each side which should provide more than sufficient flotation. My Charger DL, Panther, Triad, and Jcraft never had a closed in front section either. I don't see what good a solid bulkhead provides if the deck splits from the hull in an accident. There goes the air pocket. Many boats do not have a full perimeter glassed hull and deck, so is it really airtight anyways? I prefer to have a half dozen spare lifejackets under the deck. Even if the hull and deck separate due to the accident each lifejacket will provide 150 pounds of buoyancy.

I can personally say for sure the foam in the 18DL's don't make them float.
Not near enough with the big ass motor's, setbacks, batts, pumps and gas tank.
Coast Guard rules don't consider air compartments as floatation because then can be punctured.
Floatation has to be permanently fixed.
Best to have the deck and hull fiberglassed or sealed and Silicone your front light as well.
Hopefully under the deck with catch air but an Air Compartment sure can't hurt.

Since it is never a guarantee with the air pocket I would probably be more inclined to use flotation rather than create an "air pocket". Even if I can manage to 100% seal off everything, including the lights at the front, and the wire running through the bulkhead for the wires, and fully fiberglass the inside, etc etc. there is still the possibility that in the event of an accident, whether it hook, flip, or hit something that the air pocket can be breached which renders it useless.

Doing a quick google search - a single block of regular grade styrofoam 18" x 36" x 48" can float almost 1000 pounds. I think leaving the bulkhead open which gives me access to the bow of the boat should I ever need it, and using a block of styrofoam up the front, especially coupled with the spray foam already on the undersides of the deck the length of the cockpit (approx. 6" x 8" x 90" per side) should easily float the boat regardless of how damaged it may become.

Whether I can get a piece that big in there is a different story, but something is better than nothing. Either way I would still say that a piece of flotation IMO is better than an air pocket.

How about something simple like an inflated truck tire inner tube.
Just a thought