Nancy, The styrofoam is strictly in place to provide positive buoyancy in case of swamping the boat. The lead / steel in the keel will help right the boat should you capsize. The styrofoam will keep the boat from heading to Davy Jones' locker. Skip -----Original Message----- From: Robert Macomber <macomber@robertmacomber.com> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tue, Feb 28, 2012 1:26 pm Subject: Re: M_Boats: Buoyancy Dave, hat would happen if you take all the styrofoam out of the forepeak and under he cockpit. Would it affect the boat's sailing or stability? Or is it's urpose only in case of capsize or swamping, to keep the boat afloat? ob Macomber ANCY ANN M-15 #195 atlacha Island lorida -- On Tue, 2/28/12, W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote: rom: W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> ubject: Re: M_Boats: Buoyancy o: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> ate: Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 10:10 AM erry's M15s had a couple of large blocks of foam that sit in the 'box' formed etween the bulkheads and stringers that support the cockpit floor (ie, foam is large rectangle under the cockpit floor). no foam is in the port and tarboard cockpit locker spaces. the forward v-berth space is filled with 'artfully cut' pieces of foam that is hoved to fit and fill 90% of the forward 2/3rd of the v-berth. the hatch jerry calls it a 'bin cover') that provides access into the forward section of he v-berth should be screwed shut so the forward foam can't get out if the boat s swamped. the lockers port and starboard of the potti space are for storage, not foam. 'spray in' foam may be the only option (besides pool noodles, or flotation bags) o correct any missing foam issue under the cockpit. i recommend a non-spray olution to the forward portion of the v-berth. the foam used by jerry was expanded polystyrene (EPS). if you are near golden, O, i can provide some for a M15 revitalization project. (i have EPS in stock or the Sage 17 positive flotation option). : Dave Scobie : former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred : M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com : Sage Marine - www.sagemarine.com --- On Mon, 2/27/12, Klaas <santaklaas@telus.net> wrote: I'm still working on my 15ft Monty and noticed that the old styrofoam is breaking up . That's in both the front and back areas , at the back there was just two small blocks about 8x10 inch by 1ft . I'm thinking of either filling the areas with some of the building foam in aerosol cans , or using sailing dinghy buoyancy bags . Anyone done either or have any ideas why one shouldn't do either Thanks in advance for any comments KLaas