do i need floation foam?

[DJ87]

Hey guys,


i have been slowly taking apart my 1980 26 foot flybridge bayliner and im about ready to start installing new stringers and floor in the cabin. i posted awhile back with pics of my floor removed and the ribs and floation foam exposed and somebody commented that it was interesting i had so much floation foam in the decking given the size of the boat. Do i actually need to install floation foam? if you can see the original post you will see not much wood supports / ribs and alot of foam. all of the floor supoorts are cut out and its just a fiberglass hull. i was thinking of doubling the amount of wood stringers and supports as it didnt seem to be enough.

 

[DJ87]

Re: do i need floation foam?

the other weird thing i discovered when removing the decking was no screws or glue holding the deck down to the ribs. it was floating over the ribs and glassed in only around the edges to the hull. is that normal?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: do i need floation foam?

The foam for your boat could be structural. I'm not for sure but you should prolly to some investigation into that possibilty. Some mfg's used it to strengthen the hull and if this is the case you must replace it.

 

[DJ87]

Re: do i need floation foam?

The foam for your boat could be structural. I'm not for sure but you should prolly to some investigation into that possibilty. Some mfg's used it to strengthen the hull and if this is the case you must replace it.

wow, i didnt think of that but what you say makes sense. i was just reading some of your posts when you were fixing up the pink flamingo, lots of good info. but anyways when i was taking the foam out i noticed that the hull had slight give as i walked on it. my first though was wow thats really weak but continued on without much further thought. i need to look into foam more and structure as you suggest. i will try and post what it looks like now when i get back from this lovely trip work sent me on the the " worst city in the us" modest ca. everyone thinks stockton is worse yea right. : )

 

[oops!]

Re: do i need floation foam?

i think the law for foam stops at 25 feet....

but the rule of thumb is.....if it was factory.....replace it

most bayliners used foam to strengthen the hulls

 

[bowman316]

Re: do i need floation foam?

I ripped out the deck on my 16 Ft Thompson, and all of the foam was soaking wet. It weighted A LOT. So I just did not bother to put new foam in, just so it would get wet again.
If it is legally required, how would they ever catch you on it? there is no way to enforce that law.
See how thick the bottom layer of fiberglass is on your hull.
on my boat, the hull itself was pretty thick, maybe 3/4 of an inch. So I don't think the foam was serving any structural purpouse.
The glass on the bottom was not weak, and was not going to flex much without foam pushing against it.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: do i need floation foam?

Do you have 2 screws ? .. Two motors ?

YD.

 

[DJ87]

Re: do i need floation foam?

Do you have 2 screws ? .. Two motors ?

YD.

i have one motor, its a volvo aq260a, and my hull doesnt appear to be anywhere near as thick as written above. The very bottom might be but sayfrom dead center bottom. if you travel up maybe 6 inches its a little flexible. when i was removing the wood and standing inbetween each joist it did have slight flex. however when your in the engine room its rock solid? that is funny to make the full thin through the cabin than thick twords the back. the actual sides of the boat might be 1/4 to 3/8ths thick at the most

 

[DJ87]

Re: do i need floation foam?

also the boat sits on a 10k trailer and has 320 hrs on it and was used in saltwater in ventura ca

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: do i need floation foam?

I would put the foam back in.

 

[Bondo]

Re: do i need floation foam?

Hey guys,


i have been slowly taking apart my 1980 26 foot flybridge bayliner and im about ready to start installing new stringers and floor in the cabin. i posted awhile back with pics of my floor removed and the ribs and floation foam exposed and somebody commented that it was interesting i had so much floation foam in the decking given the size of the boat. Do i actually need to install floation foam? if you can see the original post you will see not much wood supports / ribs and alot of foam. all of the floor supoorts are cut out and its just a fiberglass hull. i was thinking of doubling the amount of wood stringers and supports as it didnt seem to be enough.

Ayuh,.... I'm an Anti-foamer from Way back,... Plastic bottles are Better, 'n Safer in my book....

I like yer idea of addin' more bulkhead supports... Think like an Egg Crate,... Structure is Strength...

Just make Sure all yer new structure is properly Drained, with limber holes...
Any water enterin' the hull, from any where, Has to be able to flow to the pumpable bilge....

If that's done, yer work will last darn near Forever...

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: do i need floation foam?

The laws are for the manufacturers, when the boat is built it must conform to a lot of rules for good reasons. After the boat is sold the owners can do almost anything they want short of not obeying the navigation and safety rules.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: do i need floation foam?

I'm an anti-foamer too ( unless it needs it for structural support ).

I do understand the benefits of foam though ( like holding back water incase of a hull breach.

YD.