Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

[tassomak]

I have a 1978 sea ray cuddy 220 i have a water logged hull all my foam is socked i cut the floor out and removed the foam now my question is can i get away with just putting pool noodles in and slosing my deak back up and on my deck is 1/2 inch plywood and its covered my a thin layer of fiberglass do i have to put the layer of fiberlass over my plywood when i put it back together this is my first boat and my first post on here im new to this hole thing so help me out if u can thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

Welcome to iboats.

Here is where your answer's are http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

I would make sure there is no stringer rot and or transom rot....... Read the threads above and you will see.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

Welcome to iboats! Like Bob said you have to make sure that water didn't get into your transom and stringers.... Plenty of threads covering those issues! Read,read and read some more

Post some pictures so we can see what your working with

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

They seem to work on Starcrafts. Huh, EZ?

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

help me out if u can thanks

This site is the best around! If these guys can't help you, NOBODY can! A few words of advice, though. There are NO dumb questions and make sure to post ALOT of pics of your progress. Browsing the pics in Repair and Restoration will show the kind of skills on this site.

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

how do i post pics

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

and this might be a stupid question but i have a inboad outboad motor whats the transum and stringer\

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

They seem to work on Starcrafts. Huh, EZ?

Ya especially red, green and blue ones... LOL

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

and this might be a stupid question but i have a inboad outboad motor whats the transum and stringer\

Im learning ... let me try this one

The transom is the very rear (stern) of the boat the - flat back..... it the part that the I/O (outdrive) comes through. Or where an outboard would hang off if it were an OB motor.

The stringers are the structural members that the floor sits on top of. Think of it as the floor joists in your home under your floor but in the boat.

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

ok i dont understand how my transom could be bad theres a motor sittin in there and i drain it after every use and my bilge pump works so explain that to me im lost lol

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

its a fiberglass hull could my fiberglass be bad and waterlogged?

 

[Jayb123]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

you have removed the floor correct... but the floor sat on some vertical members.... those are the stringers. The stringers sit on the hull bottom. and the transom is the wall behind the motor. Like Rickryder said its easier if you post pics. and like Bob_Vt said... I would read a few threads from his link.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

ok i dont understand how my transom could be bad theres a motor sittin in there and i drain it after every use and my bilge pump works so explain that to me im lost lol

On the inside of the transom there is a layer of wood, usually an inch and a half thick. It will absorb moisture over time and begin to rot, same with the stringers. If your foam is waterlogged I would assume the transom and stringers are rotting to.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=410147

Here is a link that can help you with posting pictures. A photobucket account makes it alot easier.
As for the pool noodles, yes you can use them. They seem to have worked well for others and I think I'm going that route when i put mine back together.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

Yes you can use pool noodles. Companies such as Larson have used them. But normally they are only used to add additional flotation. What I would do is is buy some block foam. You can get foam boards at Home Depot or Lowes and it's far cheaper than pool noodles. Then either seal it in plastic bags, or fiberglass it with epoxy resin. It's very important you use epoxy, not polyester resin. Polyester will dissolve the foam. This is to keep the water away and so it won't be exposed to gas or oils, or caustic cleaners.

Transoms (the back end of the boat) do get rot in the wood core. The only way to fix it is replace the core. This is a big job, but simple enough that anyone who knows how to use tools can accomplish it. It just takes time and lots of patience.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

how do i post pics

Get yourself a photobucket account and upload them to photobucket. As you are looking at your pics in Photobucket, you'll see a box on the right hand side that says "Share This Photo". Copy the Image Code and paste it into your Iboats Post. Save your photos as 640x480 for a good size on Iboats.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

Welcome to iBoats.

My signature has a link on how to post your pics

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

here some pics if this dont help let me know

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

more pics let me know what u think

 

[wallybme]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

My penny's worth....I would be reluctant to use noodles. Unless they are laid so that no water will be left in the center holes (hollows) when the bow is raised. Water left will condense and spread moisture to the deck and stringers. My 78 Glastron (cuddy) was packed with a 4"X 4" X 30" closed cell foam and a drain along the stringers to allow the water to flow to and through the transom when the bow is raised. I am restoring it and I found very little rot on the deck. The transom had a little rotting about 1 square foot, about 6 " from the IO. Images below show the only damage I found.

 

[tassomak]

Re: Can u use pool noodles in stead of flotation foam

well i know my transom is fine its all solid just wondering if i can get away with no foam or is it there for another pupose??? please help lol im a new born when it comes to this stuff fellows