Flotation Foam - Coast Guard Approved

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />When buying flotation foam, can I assume that the stuff I buy from this website or West Marine will be coast guard approved. Do they actually need to be coast guard approved? In addition, I was thinking of making a box form out of plywood or card board that's say 3 feet x 4 inch x 4 inch. Have a hole and poor in the expandible foam. When cured I have a nice rectangle foam. What release medium would be recommended. Thanks.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Flotation Foam - Coast Guard Approved

As long as it is a good closed cell 2 part foam, it should be fine. I don't know that the Coast Gaurd endorses a certain type of foam, they just require that it exists. <br /><br />Maybe you could line the box with plastic, pour, and remove. The plastic will stick to the foam, unless you spray it with something. I am not sure what that something would be.

 

[CTD]

Re: Flotation Foam - Coast Guard Approved

I used a garbage and put simonize paste wax on it and the foam didn't stick to it. I did not try the bag without the wax, it might work by itself.

 

[cigarxtc]

Re: Flotation Foam - Coast Guard Approved

The cardboard sounds like the easy, econimical form to use. Just make sure it's thick/heavy duty cardboard. That foam might expand and force out the shape. As for keeping it from sticking to the form, PAM might work. It's biodegradeable, water soluble and keeps my waffles from sticking to my waffle iron. So I bet it would work great on cardboard or plastic.

 

[ob15]

Re: Flotation Foam - Coast Guard Approved

I have used just plastic when pouring foam and it didn't stick. Best bet would be to use some thicker plastic sheeting.