Drain passage under floatation foam

[klos]

I think I remember a while back reading about some kind of rope that melted away when exposed to water, for use in drain passages under the floatation foam. I was wondering what ever came of that, and is any drainage needed under the foam.<br />THANKS

 

[brownies]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

I did about 30seconds of brainstorming trying to think of a way to use foam under a floor and be able to dry it out. Sorry, 30 sec is about the limit of my attention span.<br /> I saw where somebody on these forums said they used a piece of pvc pipe and drilled small holes in it..and foamed over it. I liked the idea (about the same as a french drain)..but..thinking into it a bit results in "maybe" more harm than good.<br /> <br /> Here's the problem. In order to drain it means that you think the foam will get wet..By opening a drain hole, where water can get out...means it can also get in...faster.<br /> Foam will need considerable airflow in order to dry. Not sure a small rope size tunnel will allow that. I think it will get wet faster than it can ever dry out.<br /> About the only thing I thought of so far would be to build partitions on the underside of the floor prior to installation. About halfway the distance from the underside of the floor to the hull. Prior to installation, turn the floor boarding upside down and fill these partitions with foam. Saw the foam off level with the partitions.<br /> Looking at the floor upside down would almost look as if it had stringers on it, but, these stringers would only be half as tall as the hull stringers. And, they would be filled with foam in between them.<br /> Turned over and installed in boat would result in floatation against the floor, halfway down toward the hull. From the hull up to the floatation would be air space. There should be limber/drain holes drilled in the stringers front and rear to allow water to escape and air to get in.<br /> Gravity and considerable air space would allow the floatation a chance to drain and "maybe" dry out.<br /><br /> I still think a person would be better off by sealing the floatation cavitites to where moisture cannot get in there. I don't think boat manufacturers spend enough time here, but, you can. Or, at least I sure think a person CAN seal those areas completely by encasing the stringers with a couple layers of glass, and the underside of the floor...and right before you lay the floor in place, put a layer of glass and resin on the tops of the stringers and install the floor while the resin is still tacky. Then just make sure to seal the topside of the floor wood with glass...and spend double time looking for holes, cracks, crevices, etc...any way for a drop of water to get to the floor wood or around it.<br /> Just do everything you can to seal those compartments air/water tight..AND..don't leave your boat outside in the weather.<br /> I don't think a rainstorm or washing your boat will play much of a roll in saturating foam if the floor is sealed even "decently". Most foam is saturated by the boat holding water from the drain plug getting stopped up, or continuously open in a rainy environment.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

i posted about the pvc, so far no problems. i do keep a pvc cap on them at the stearn,when in the water, and remove the cap when on the trailer with the tongue Up. i also store it covered.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

I don't think the guys that used the water soluble rope have had their boats finished long enough to know if it worked.

 

[EZLoader]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

If I recall, the member you are referring to that did the melt away rope was Boomyal. Check out his Shareproject site.<br /><br /> Boomyal Restorration

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

Well Brownie,........<br /><br />I Really Like your 1st Idea,......But it's an Awful Lot of Work to Get there...........<br />

I still think a person would be better off by sealing the floatation cavitites to where moisture cannot get in there.

I Think That's Impossible ..............<br /><br />I'll just stay Foam Free.......

 

[klos]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

Brownies: Thanks for all the info. I also thought of useing air/water tight compartments but with the extream hot and cold weather here I was worried that condensation would get traped so I decided to install limber holes.<br />Tashasdaddy: I like the PVC idea with caps to seal it off. What size PVC pipe & what size holes?<br />How did you keep the foam from seeping into the holes, plugging the pipe? I was thinking of leaving a couple of inches sticking out were the cap fits so I could adapt some kind of blower to circulate air when I put it up in the winter. Mabe overkill?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

There's another way Brownies method will work. The water soluble stuff also comes in sheet form, it could be put down against the hull, then pour the foam on top of it. When your done it would leave a space under it just like he described.

 

[ED21]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

One thing I've learned with buildings & it seems to apply to boats as well-Water always finds a way in & if you don't allow it to get out it causes trouble. <br />It's up to the designer to figure out a way to let it drain.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

Say after me, no foam, no foam, no foam,no foam

 

[klos]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

If I don't use foam will the floor have enough support? Any other problems without it?

 

[brownies]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

Hulls are thicker than you think. Foam would have to add support, but, I don't think a boat would ever realize it.<br />Kind of like using 1" floor where 1/2" came out. Commendable idea, but, just no need.<br /> <br />Bondo, I think I can seal one that good. But, there is always that WHAT IF...That "what if" I missed a place. And you would never know. That's why I don't use it, and I put limbers in so water can get in anytime it wants...and out.<br /><br /> Here's a thought. Get some 1/16" holed mesh type wire. Like they use for homemade animal/dog pens,cages, and boxes.<br /> It's galvanized...wooo.<br />But, it's rustproof won't make any difference anyway.<br /> Make about a 4 or 5" diameter circles with it. Lay it in the deep part of the area to be filled with foam. 5" is a big diameter, but, you will need that room for enough airflow to help dry it out.<br /> Just put the foam over it. It will of course run down into the circle of mesh, but, not very far. That mesh will slow it down quickly.<br />You should have at least a 3" diameter opening when the foam dries.<br /> Like Bondo says though, I still see a wet mess at a later date if the boat ever gets wet inside.<br /><br /> I think little blowers would be overkill. IF no foam is used...just air circulation from some 1.5" limber drain holes would be enough to dry it out unless it stays continuously wet.

 

[brownies]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

Just thought. When I said "you would never know" if you got it completely sealed.<br /> Here is something to think about.<br />You can take a water logged boat, use a 10ft long 1" diameter drill bit (if there is such a thing). Drill a hole thru the transom and run the hull of the boat and drill thru 10' of foam....You MIGHT Get a "dribble" to run out of that hole.<br />Let that boat set a month, inside, tilted back and not enough water would come out that you would ever notice.<br /><br />Then, rip the floor out of the boat and you would find several hundred lbs of soggy foam.<br /><br />It's just that the ideas of making foam drain are good, but, the only way to know if floatation is waterlogged is to pull the floor.<br />OR...If you know the boat has EVER held water above the floor...I can assure you...That foam is waterlogged. And water in or around foam is no different than termites.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

to seal the pipe in place. i covered it with drain field cloth, from home depot. use a small amount of foam to keep it in place drain field cloth is designed to keep thing other than water from filtering thru.

 

[bigboy]

Re: Drain passage under floatation foam

Just make area's that are airtight. Than make a hole and poor the foam in it. Thats how i've done it. And i can asure you that its tight. I've made a ski locker and i cant see any foam between the stringers and floor; Now just grind everything up and seal with resin. Airtight = wathertight. Have been thinking about pipes but believe me. It's a lot off work and it isnt the good method.