Styrofoam!!

[solanoi]

hey guys im pretty new to the boat owner experience i recently repaired my 1985 Sportcraft 20ft and while i was cleaning it I managed to find pieces of Styrofoam in all over the place. my question is, do I or do I not need this???

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Styrofoam!!

It's probably not actually Styrofoam. It's probably the closed cell flotation foam use in the boat to keep it floating and upright if it gets swamped. Removing flotation foam is not a good idea.

However, you don't say where it was that you found it in the boat. "All over the place" isn't really very descriptive.

If you could be more specific about where this foam is located, we can be more specific.

 

[solanoi]

Re: Styrofoam!!

im not sure what its called but the styrofoam is found in these circular compartments that allow you to access the inner part of the boat, for example where you can run wires or something, sorry i can't be more descriptive i'm very new to the boat owning world lol.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Styrofoam!!

that would keep your boat half way floating it it got swamped with water. SO it would not sink like a rock to the bottom.

But if this happens the boat is toast anyway.

 

[solanoi]

Re: Styrofoam!!

Well looks like im gonna be keeping it, the next question i have is i want to change some of the styrofoam because it seems in bad condition i have a 20 ft Sportcraft open fisherman is there a ratio per weight or square feet of styrofoam i have to place?

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Styrofoam!!

Bowman...

The foam is not to keep the boat from being toast. It is to keep YOU from being toast. Also, if the boat sinks (whether partially or completely), you are responsible to remove it from the water. If it is partially afloat, it is easier to get it out of the water.

Solanoi...

I would be a little concerned as to why the foam is breaking up. It would seem to imply (to me at least) that the foam may be water-logged (and thus weighing down the boat). If so, this is a minor concern. It won't likely hurt anything any worse than it already is, but it will slow the boat down drastically and also reduce the maximum safe load of the boat. It will also greatly reduce the resale value of the boat.

Good luck,
TerryMSU

 

[solanoi]

Re: Styrofoam!!

What do you mean water logged, and foam breaking up the foam just looks old and dirty it doesn't break up in pieces when i grab it, and how much should i place in the boat?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Styrofoam!!

Just put it back where it was,
put foam in out of sigh places, where it will not be in the way, like under the splash well, or up in the bow.

And Terry,
I think if your boat sunk to the bottom, It could just stay there,
you think you would have to retreive it?

 

[ebry710]

Re: Styrofoam!!

Bowman...

I would be a little concerned as to why the foam is breaking up. It would seem to imply (to me at least) that the foam may be water-logged (and thus weighing down the boat). If so, this is a minor concern. It won't likely hurt anything any worse than it already is, but it will slow the boat down drastically and also reduce the maximum safe load of the boat. It will also greatly reduce the resale value of the boat.

Good luck,
TerryMSU

Keep an eye on the quantity for foam your finding. I suggest plastic bagging the foam found for a while and keep the bag in the compartment for which it came. This way you can track your foam breakdown.