Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

[Oilguy]

Is this stuff really necessary if I am rebuilding a boat?? I understand that it is suppose to keep the boat floating and reduce the amount of water coming in if the hull is punctured >> But after removal >> I don't know if I want it anywhere near my boat again!!

Can someone fill me in on this issue... Can't I just put a couple of drains between the stringers so that any water can just make it's way to the bilge area and be sucked out??

Thanks
OG

 

[boat1010]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

I know when I did the deck on my boat I took out the foam and there isn't any in it now. But right or wrong, just my two cents...

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

There are plenty of strong opinions both pro and con on the forum. For my restoration, I decided to continue with the 2 part, pourable foam. My primary concern is safety in the event of a hull breech. I even went so far as to design drainage and drying schemes but every one came back as ineffective or another open path for flooding. I also needed the support and hull shape that foam heps provide. That doesn't mean that I consider other opinions invalid, just the route I decided to take.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

I cut it out of my bayliner .But went with 3/4 inch floor not 1/2 inch and made braces from the stringers to floor mateing surface,looked like wooden wedges that had 1/2 in pvc bonded at lower edge.I also have twin 125gph bilge pumps.I wont put it back in anything I ever build.But if it gets a hole in it its going down.

 

[Paul Bell]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

You ask some of the same questions I did.
I could not seeputting in foam after the adventure of removing soaked foam.
Beside being expensive and potentially having to put holes in my new water tight deck those foam removal memories kept haunting.
http://picasaweb.google.com/pacerdude/EntireDeckReplacement89Celebrity224se#
Here was my alternative.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

Paul, you have done one fantastically beautiful job on your boat! First class all the way! Kudos man.

 

[MrMarine]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

Personally i am going with the blue sheet foam from Lowes. It doesnt soak up water and can be easily removed if necessary in the future. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

I don't blame you for not wanting to foam the under deck space. So think about adding flotation foam above the deck where it is less likely to sit in water and absorb it.

You can use the pink foam pannels, and glue them up to fit under the gunnels and splashwell, etc. Or you can try doing what shipping departments do. Fill bags with the expanding foam, then place the bag in an area to be foamed, and let it expand inside the bag. That will keep it from sticking to everything, and also let it expand into odd shaped spaces. Cardboard can be used to make "retaining walls" to help box in an area to get a smooth side where needed.

I had ordered a 8hp power motor a few years back, and it came in a box with bags filled with foam. It completely conformed to the shape of the motor, and it was well protected and supported by the foam. That always stuck in my mind as a good way to apply foam above the deck in a boat.

Any way you do it, having the foam is a good idea and does save lives. So I would prefer to see you have some foam in the boat.

Just something to think about.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

There's been a number of creative alternative...the foam sheets as mentioned, pop bottles, ping pong balls (lol it would work), foam pool noodles, OR, the old life jacket idea! If you can get like a dozen adult life jackets it's more than enough flotation for like a 19' boat. If all else fails the boat sinks and you'll have a dozen life jackets floating around...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

Can someone fill me in on this issue... Can't I just put a couple of drains between the stringers so that any water can just make it's way to the bilge area and be sucked out??

Ayuh,... Absolutely,... That's what I do...

If she goes Down,...... That's what PFD.s are for....

 

[cornercanyon]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

Please notice I am a newbie/cadet.

Aside from flotation doesn't the foam support the outer shell of the hull against the forces of wave action and (heaven forbid) a tree stump or rock? Wouldn't a 'solid' backing reduce potential flex and minimize stress points?

I have been thinking a lot about this and was heading in Mark42 direction of using bags and somehow sealing them to keep the foam dry from the inevitable mositure.

Just a cadet trying to learn from you all.

Happy Easter to you all too.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

Aside from flotation doesn't the foam support the outer shell of the hull against the forces of wave action and (heaven forbid) a tree stump or rock? Wouldn't a 'solid' backing reduce potential flex and minimize stress points?

Ayuh,... A Well built Hull, is a Well built Hull.....
The Hull should be supported by Stringers,+ Bulkheads....
Not a Foam Sponge...

 

[cornercanyon]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

Okay, point well taken.

Did Sea Ray build a 'well built' hull back in the late '80's? Or how does a novice cadet know if a hull is well built?

 

[Oilguy]

Re: Water Absorbing Boat Foam Question

I have an 85 Supra with a Kevlar hull... It seems REALLY strong... I like the 2" foam cut to fit idea...
I guess I need to decide soon... I have everything cleaned out and ready to start going back together....

OG