Bow Foam: Is it necessary

[iplayfarmer]

The bow of my 1953 17' Hydroswift boat is full of foam. It's all old packaging pieces and chunks of styrofoam. I've read some of the threads here about adding foam, but I'd like further discussion. I'm afraid I'll reveal just how ignorant I am of boating basics, but I want to learn.

Is the foam necessary, or is it more of a peace of mind thing?

Is there a good way to accomplish the same purpose and reclaim some of the space under the closed bow for storage?

 

[capt_neo]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

iplayfarmer,

First, the caveat: I am not personally familiar with the craft you are speaking about (1953 17' Hydroswift). However . . .

There are numerous areas on the internet to determine what the [current] standards are for the manufacturing of watercraft to meets applicable USCG Standards and be considered NMMA Certified.

Try typing "watercraft floatation certification" in the search engine of your choice (Google is where I typically start) and you should provided with a long list of links to review and help inform yourself on this subject.

So not knowing if the boat is lapstrake, ply, or other product of common use in that period of boat building, it sounds like a previous owner was trying to create his own flotation improvements. Keep in mind your boat is effectively grandfathered and are not "required" by our Uncle to alter or improve it to todays standards. It would be just from a personal choice it you want to leave it or improve upon it.

How much does it weigh? What engine is powering it and what is its weight?

You likely do not have a significant amount of space under the gunnels to add something or have sufficient access under the deck so the bow area was where that other owner tried to increase the saftey of the boat (btw, what is the condition of the hull of the boat; thats a pretty old vintage and if it wasn't properly taken care of, well who knows; I will stop speculating :redface:

Don't know if this answered your question specifically; there are just too many variables that were not addressed in your question for anyone to answer specifically. Good luck on the web search.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

I pulled the foam out of my boat and never replaced it, BUT, I fish rivers and am rarely more than 100' from shore and I trailer my boat so if it is on the water I am in it.

I also have 2 bilge pumps,500 and 1100gph with an alarm on the big pump so if it goes off I know I have a problem.

SO, yes, it should have the proper amount of foam put in it but it is your boat and ultimately your decision.

 

[Splat]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

Foam only adds flotation when you sink. Does nothing while a float. It is required bty the coast guard on i believe anything under 21 ft

Bill

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

I see no reason why you would need to have foam up under your closed bow. As was said it was probably added by a previous owner for peace of mind. Boats are foamed so that if they are swamped they will have at least some level of flotation to keep them from sinking to the bottom and giving you something to hang onto until help arrives.

For that boat ideally you'd install foam under the deck. The method I'm partial to at the moment is the pink or blue sheet foam from Lowes/HD. Like this: (credit to iBoats member 61 Holiday)

 

[iplayfarmer]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

Thanks for all the replies! Thank you also for your patience with my ignorance.

The boat is fiberglass, and it has a 1963 100 HP Mercury "Merc 1000" engine on it. The hull is in pretty good shape so far as I can tell. I've had it out once for an hour or so, and the boat seemed fine. I'm not sure on weight, but when I put it in the water, the water line was comfortably low on the boat. All indications are that this boat has spent little time in the water and a lot of time out in the elements.

I like the idea of adding foam under the deck. I don't have any access to the deck, but I am planning on replacing the carpet in the boat. There may be a way to remove the floor like in the picture and add some of the pink or blue board while I'm at it.

Does the blue board have as much of an issue with soaking up the water?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

Neither take on water. Someone on here once commented that they found a piece of it once on a construction site that had been BURIED next to a foundation and it was bone dry. Welcome to iBoats and lets see some pics of this boat!

 

[Jonathan3206]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

Yea I have an open bow and I took that nasty stuff out. I personally dont see any reason for it seeing the seats will just pop off on my old boat anyway. But If I want to put it back in the gulf I will need to replace it.

 

[salty87]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

why does everyone hate foam when it's the water that causes the problems?

if hulls weren't designed to trap water, foam would never get waterlogged.

 

[Jonathan3206]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

why does everyone hate foam when it's the water that causes the problems?

if hulls weren't designed to trap water, foam would never get waterlogged.

Foam wasn't waterlogged but it was just 20 years old. Also there was so much in there there wasn't room for ANY jackets in there.

 

[salty87]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

Foam wasn't waterlogged but it was just 20 years old. Also there was so much in there there wasn't room for ANY jackets in there.

that's a real catch 22. foam is very much like life jackets....you don't need them until you NEED them (ignoring laws here for a moment)

 

[Jonathan3206]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

that's a real catch 22. foam is very much like life jackets....you don't need them until you NEED them (ignoring laws here for a moment)

True... But what would you rather have? Foam or life jackets? That being said im planning on replacing the foam when im ready to take it into the gulf

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

I would never rely on my hull to save my life it I got swampped. Life jackets and plenty of them

 

[iplayfarmer]

Re: Bow Foam: Is it necessary

For now I was able to push the foam further forward in the bow to make room for the life jackets. It seems like keeping the foam is a good idea as long as I can work around it. The life jackets won't be in the bow when the boat is on the water because they will be on the passengers, but having storage for them on the boat makes things a little easier.

I attached some pics of the boat. She's old.