Foam question

[EJ3]

It is probably a stupid question, but I don't know the answer!!!

Why is there foam in the boat?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Foam question

hopefully to keep it from sinking totally.

 

[EJ3]

Re: Foam question

Is there a legal requirement with the use of foam?

 

[JB]

Re: Foam question

I think it is a legal requirement that the boat stays afloat when fully swamped. Foam is the best way to get that when the boat is manufactured.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Foam question

Is there a size range that requires foam? I thought i remembered seeing somewhere that if the boat is less than 19' that it did not require foam. Just wondering if anyone knows.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Foam question

Why is there foam in the boat?

Ayuh,......

It's put there by the manufacturer to make all the Wood Rot Out, so you can buy a New Boat............
It's called Planned Obsolescence.........

Btw,.......
There's No Foam Required if a person is rebuilding their Own Boat.......

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Foam question

Is there a size range that requires foam? I thought i remembered seeing somewhere that if the boat is less than 19' that it did not require foam. Just wondering if anyone knows.

So far all the 15 footers I have been dealing with (which isn't that many) have had foam under the deck. I don't know about the 57 model whitehouse runaboat though. It's more of a safety feature I believe then anything else. I somewhat agree with bondo that it is there to aid in rotting the wood lol.

I like the ideas that some of these iboaters have came up with by using 2 liter soda bottles and other types of containers to replace the foam. But you half to consider how many bottles or containers will it take to keep the boat afloat......Almost reminds me of the Mythbusters using ping pong balls to raise a sunken yacht which I believe it actually did work, but it took allot of balls to raise it .

 

[Mark42]

Re: Foam question

Foam is a US Coast Guard requirement in boats. Not so much to make the boat float when swamped, but to leave "bread crumb" trail on the waters surface when your boat explodes.

Just kidding!

 

[Robj]

Re: Foam question

It also strengthens the hull and floor. It does have some structural significance. I replaced the foam in my boat when I rebuilt it.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Foam question

Foam is a US Coast Guard requirement in boats. Not so much to make the boat float when swamped, but to leave "bread crumb" trail on the waters surface when your boat explodes.

Just kidding!

AHAHAHAHA!!! That's hillarious! Good one, you had me laughing good.

 

[oops!]

Re: Foam question

ej
read coast gaurd rules, on this forum.
ittl give ya iders on why u need it.

i was horrified when i pulled my floor and found out there wasnt any floatation at all.
if you ever need it you will be glad u have it.

happy swimming
oops

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Foam question

I m with oops, I also found you can sculpt the stuff once cured, with a sander or a knife and then you cn glass over it, I did two layers of mat over a section in my boat and found out the stuff is really strong. and no wood to rot.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Foam question

It also strengthens the hull and floor. It does have some structural significance. I replaced the foam in my boat when I rebuilt it.

Have a great day,

Rob.

It has structural significance if the original boat design had foam in place, and it may help strengthen or stiffen some boats where it can form a bridge between the deck and hull or similar. On the other hand, some boats may not need foam at all that originally had it.

Is there a size range that requires foam? I thought i remembered seeing somewhere that if the boat is less than 19' that it did not require foam. Just wondering if anyone knows.

According to the US Coast Guard rules for homebuilt boats, any boat 20 feet or under has to have floatation when manufactured. The jury's still out on whether it's legal to remove the foam and then sell the boat - it may be the responsibility of the new owner to add it or not. I think the general opinion is that older boats not having foam are grandfathered in).

If you think about it it makes sense - bigger boats just don't have the room for enough foam to stay afloat without sinking, plus they have other rules to obey, like a certain number of watertight compartments, etc.


Erik

 

[Mark42]

Re: Foam question

Some old Chrysler boats used foam as a structural part of the boat. The entire space between the deck (floor) and hull was completely filled with foam. Rigid, strong and quiet, these boats had no stringers at all. The foam was a critical part of the boats design.

 

[mtsumedi]

Re: Foam question

Can you use this stuff to replace the foam??

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Foam question

I don't know but that is some great stuff!

 

[texfish]

Re: Foam question

I believe the foam used in boat flotation is closed cell foam to control(minimize) expansion and water absorbsion. I do not know if you would get the same reults from building foam.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Foam question

Yes, you can use that stuff in a can because it is closed cell foam. But it is cheaper to buy the regular mix it type foam ( there was a long thread on this topic a year or three ago if you search for it). The stuff you buy at the home supply is great to fill in small areas on the underside of gunnels and the like, especially where it won't normally come in contact with water. I would use it as a secondary method of filling hard to get to voids above the deck.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Foam question

Like Mark42 said, you can use it since it is closed-cell, but to add to that statement, it has a few disadvantages. One is that it will become saturated faster than the marine grade 2 part mix foam. It also doesn't have as good of chemical resistance properties. That being said, it also has a major advantage in that if you have an area that is relatively inaccessable, you can feed it down aquarium air hose tubing directly into the spot you need it, whereas the pour foam you can't. That makes it a must-have for any restoration in my book; but also not the main source of your floatation foam.

 

[mtsumedi]

Re: Foam question

Good information guys.

Thanks