Swamped boat... the importance of good foam and a radio

[tburda]

Re: Swamped boat... the importance of good foam and a radio

aside from the boat being visible so you can still be found, (I hadn't thought of that) I decided I was defintily putting my foam back in, because then at least I can salvage my boat back, and rebuild her again if anything were to happen. Spend the money and put in the extra work; or, save a few dollars and a couple days work for you boat to sink faster and you'll really be...up a creek without a paddle....

 

[RobbyA]

Re: Swamped boat... the importance of good foam and a radio

I am so glad I read this, now my mind is made up about going back with foam or not! Foam it is, and if in ten years the foam is soaking wet and I have to cut the floor out again, I will curse the person (Me) who put it back together so well and enjoy every minute of it. At least I know I will have it in ten years with foam. Without foam it stands A LOT better chance of becoming a man-made reef.

 

[clockwatcher]

Re: Alternative to foam

Re: Alternative to foam

search wet foam rot prevention.....one of the best talks about everything from ping pong balls to life jackets for flotation.

i would like to try a new trick tho....
1. place pex pipe in hull where you want dranage channels.
2 cover area with plastic
3.pour foam and let cure
4. remove foam by pulling up the plastic
5. remove the pex pipe
6. pull plastic off foam.
7. replace foam

the foam SHOULD have a hard smooth side where the plastic was, this would prevent fast water intrusion and the limber channels would still be there where the pex pipe was.

I thought long and hard on this subject and I think I came up with a pretty good design. I ran soaker hoses along the stringer/hull joints through limber holes to the bilge and used Tuck Tape to hold it down. Then I poured the foam over the hoses. The hoses drain to holes in the two main stringers into the bilge. I capped the holes with threaded PVC inserts and plugs. Now I can unscrew the plugs and let it drain over winter or put a shop vac over the holes for extra persuasion. The hose acts more like a candle wick than a flume.

Another thought was to use plastic window screen and airsoft BBs to form and aggregate channel along the stringers. Much like gravel between the dirt and a retaining wall. The soaker hose was more economical.

You can kind of see the hose and tape along the stringers in this picture:

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Swamped boat... the importance of good foam and a radio

Well my eyes have been opened wide, blows me away how easy it is to swamp a boat. Lots of new things to consider when buying another boat.