Buoyancy Foam

[FluffyChicken]

Where is the cheapest place to get the 2lb density bouyancy foam?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

Forgot to subscribe to this one too. Sorry again.

 

[sdunt]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

I am not a fan of pour in place foams, they always seem to get wet. My comments in this thread might help: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=196516

I am also not the only boater that uses rigid foam: http://mtf-indy.home.mindspring.com/boat/hull/hull3.html

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

I like that idea. But doesnt pour in place foam add more strength to the whole structure?

 

[sdunt]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

I like that idea. But doesnt pour in place foam add more strength to the whole structure?

Some boats were and are designed for the foam to be an integral part of the the structural strength. In my case there wasn't any foam in there to start with. Also the pieces I installed are cut to fit tightly and actually bear on the inside of the hull was well as the back of the floor.

There is also PL construction glue holding the foam in place to the hull and floor.

But the foam installation will also drain because its not adhered to the hull and this foam just will not soak up water.

And, you won't find pour able foam for these prices..

 

[mtnrat]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

Interesting solution for foam. I am also in construction and I have dug up the type of foam you used from below the water table and it definitely had not absorbed water. Hmmm.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

whats PL consturction glue and can i get it at homdepot or lowes?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

Is it equally as buoyant as the pourable foam?

 

[sdunt]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

whats PL consturction glue and can i get it at homdepot or lowes?

PL 400 or similar is avaible at HD or lowes.. You would be looking for a polyurethane based construction adhesive.. http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/imageDetail,p,148,i,2829,00.html

Also BASF makes a product called Sonolastic NP1 that professional supply houses have, its basically the same stuff as 3M 5200 but lots cheaper..

 

[sdunt]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

Is it equally as buoyant as the pourable foam?

OK, I'll give you this lesson for free.

Water weights 62 LBS per cubic foot, so every Cubic foot of water you displace is 62 pounds of 'buoyancy' you do have to subtract from that 62 Pound figure the weight of your foam. The pourable foam that is called 2 pound, weights 2 pounds per cubic foot..

A 4 by 8 sheet of 2 inch thick foamular is 5.3 cubic feet. and I can't find a spec on weight, but a sheet of it can not weigh more than 5 pounds if that..

SO yes, it is equally or more buoyant than pourable, because by the time the boat is old enough to be swamped the builders foam is still DRY and will support 60 pounds / cubic foot vs pourable that will be 25 to 50% wet, and thus support less.

If you like to read: http://www.shortypen.com/boats/oday19/float/index.htm

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

Wow that guys experiment said that the pourable stuff sucked up the water like a spunge. now that i think of it. when i was pulling out the old foam form the boat towards the bottom there was a ton of saturation. i never really put 2 and 2 together. Thanks guys.

So as long as I cut the pieces so the fit snug and use that PL stuff it should add a lot of rigidity to my boat?

 

[brodie6]

Re: Buoyancy Foam

Where is the cheapest place to get the 2lb density bouyancy foam?

To answer your original question. USCOMPOSITES has very good prices and very quick shipping

http://uscomposites.com/foam.html