To Foam or not to Foam that is the question

[notsunkyet]

Ok i am about to put mu new floors in my 86 Bayliner... I gutted everything and going hull up. the foam i dug out was so water soaked i could barely lift it out!!!! So im leary of replacing it. I have heard both pros and cons from all the guys on here about it. the foam was mainly under the bow floor and in the cabins underthe seats in the bow. I get that this is there for noise supression but how much more noisy is it going to be if left out?
Also, seeing as it was in these compartments does that ad any structural wieght to the area of the hull where the water is going to be hitting under WOT?
If so im thinking of using HD foam spray in....

 

[Paul eagen]

Re: To Foam or not to Foam that is the question

It is probably not structural but it is there for flotation in the unlucky event that the boat takes on too much water it will not sink. you should replace it with coast guard approved two part flotation foam. You should seal it with csm and resin after you put it in then it wont get water logged again.

 

[lowkee]

Re: To Foam or not to Foam that is the question

Today was the day to add the foam to my boat, as the deck went in this afternoon. At the very last second, I decided not to add any foam at all. I refuse to use the two part crap which helped rot everything to begin with, and I had the pink sheet ready togo, but I just don't see how so little foam (I barely have any 'open' space under the deck which isn't occupied by the ski locker or fuel tank) would help my boat float, rather than sink more slowly. So, in the end I decided since my boat would likely sink, just slower, with foam, it wasn't worth the trouble and out it remains.

I think the choice to use foam depends on the boat, its use and how much area there is for it. Deciding is up to you.