I'm building a small make-shift pontoon boat and I'm using PVC pipes as flotation devices for the deck. I'm not sure how wide (diameter) the pipes should be in order to get them to float and i don't want them cut and then the boat sinks because of too much weight. This is the information needed to solve (i think):
If four 10 foot long cylinders were placed in water at an air temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, and all four cylinders are holding a connective weight of 800 lbs (1760 kg), how much diameter should the cylinders have in order to float holding the given weight?
Thanks in advance to whoever can solve this problem!