Great Stuff Foam

[pete44]

Anyone ever use this stuff for foam replacement? ($6/can)..I also heard the "blue or pink" sheet foam at Home Depot works well.I guess you would resin in the sheet foam in between stringers???..Main thing as someone else pointed out here is plenty of drainage access...Suggestions? (cheap ones please)
Thanks,Pete

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

There have been debates on here about how water resistant Great Stuff is. I would also think it would be a big mess. I'd go with the proper 2 part pourable foam before I'd use Great Stuff.

But what do I know....I used 72 pool noodles in mine

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

Please.....Use the search function...... this has been discussed many time before

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

Yeah...if you calculate out the volume of what's in the can vs. what's in a standard "floatation foam" kit, then you find out the pourable foam kits are cheaper, even at $6/can.

But yeah, do a search, it's been beaten to death.

 

[Oilguy]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

But what do I know....I used 72 pool noodles in mine

LOL....

 

[Southern Appal]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

I see on TV a foam that looks suspiciouly like Great Stuff is being used in homes as insulation. At my local big box homeimprovement store they have a machine that you can rent and big bags of stuff that are mixed with something that activates it to make sprayable foam. You have to dress in biohazard clothing and use a respirator. I read that it takes a very skilled person for accurate application (maybe that was on This Old House). Anyway, I decided not to try it on anything, including my boat.

 

[Panther2006]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

Pete44, here is my opinion

I used sheet Styrofoan(blue Kind) and cut it to fit the contours of the Hull, hence fairly snug. I then sheeted the deck with 1/2 inch plywood and fastened it with wood screws and fiberglassed, the floor in place. Then proceeded to cut out cookies, with a circular blade for cutting door Knob Holes. Then I used Monofoam (Great stuff) and forced a can in each hole. The foam will expansion and maintain pressure on the Hull and underside of the deck.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[jspano]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

i too am using pool noodles!
i don't want a tight fit with my floation, even though i am going to TRY to make my deck as water proof as possible i anticapate water getting below and want fast drainage.
there is a difference between insulation and floation foam. i would use the large sheets and cut to fit,loosely, i'm not sure if you have an alum or fiber boat. i would only use great stuff for small spots, i was actually thinking of using some on my bow mounted fuel tank as insulation to keep in in place and rubbing.

 

[pete44]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

But what do I know....I used 72 pool noodles in mine



ezmobee

My kids have used those noodles,,,,,how much a piece? and I guess you sliced some in half and then resined/epoxed them in place onto wood thus creating a "void" for improved drainage? In fact they could act as "channels" to excess holes to bilge if you wanted...ANY PICS?

Thanks,Pete

 

[jspano]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

ez and myself have alum hulls that have ribs that have a channel in the center that allows water to run thru. no adhesive is used. cuttting lenght to fit check ez's thread there are photos. use the search or just find threads on boats similar to yours and start at page 1 and follow it.
poured foam with a thight fit did my hull in. fiber and alum hulls are very different and there are several ways to foam each.
i'm using pool noodles for positive floation because i cant get the big sheets here in fla.
imo.
fiberglass boats are more water tight(when done right) and seam to use the 2 part pourable foam more

 

[saildan]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

Anyone ever use this stuff for foam replacement? ($6/can)..I also heard the "blue or pink" sheet foam at Home Depot works well.I guess you would resin in the sheet foam in between stringers???..Main thing as someone else pointed out here is plenty of drainage access...Suggestions? (cheap ones please)
Thanks,Pete

(cheap ones please) What's your safety worth?

Building products are not intended for marine use. Insulation foam's cell walls are usually thinner for max dead air, therefore max insulation. In a wet environment these break down faster or allow water vapor to pass through turning emergency flotation into extra ballast.

Styrofoams are not fuel-proof. Not allowed where a gas or diesel engine is involved. Polyurethane is the USCG recognized material.

What's your intended purpose, keep open spaces from filling with water from slow leaks or provide emergency buoyancy in the event of a catastrophic hull breach?

The former is a repair issue, the latter is why foam is installed in the first place. But, to be effective it needs to be attached to the hull or contained in discrete compartments.

Folks who replace the original with bits and pieces are just loading the hull with marker flotsam so if the hull breaks open the Coast Guard has a good indicator of where to search for the bodies.

To replace original foam you need to know a couple of things -

• Volume of the spaces to be filled - to calculate emergency buoyancy correct for your boat.
• Balance of flotation in the boat so in the event you swamp you don't float end up or roll over. (see the USCG Boat Builder's Handbook)
• Density - USCG minimum is 2 lb / square foot. Boat builders use denser when structural support help is a secondary function. Most house builder's insulation foam doesn't come close.

Read the FAQ here - http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

Just ran across this while searching for more info on DOW Great Stuff - guess that about clinches it.

Sir,

Thank you for contacting The Dow Chemical Company.

You had written in looking to find a spray foam that could be used in a boating application. Unfortunately none of our products have been tested for any aquatic applications. So we won't have a recommendation for your application.

If you have any questions, please call us at 866-583-2583 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time

You can also visit our www.styrofoam.com or www.dowbuildingmaterials.com web site and use the ANSWER CENTER link for technical questions 24 hours per day.

Best regards,

Jeffrey Sygo
Customer Information Group
Dow Building Solutions
The Dow Chemical Company
(866) 583-2583
www.dow.com

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Great Stuff Foam

ANY PICS?

Page 17 of the SS resto thread below in my signature