Flotation foam

[jtbrooks]

A simple console changeout has turned into a complete boat redo. I have had to remove the floor and decks to get to the wiring.  What a mess but that is a different topic.  This winter my boat cover failed and allowed quite a bit of water to get into the boat without draining. The result of this is water logged flotation foam. Where can I get replacement foam. I was going to use the 2 inch pink foam sheets at Home Depot but my foam is only 1 3/4". Do any of you have recommendations?  

[Way2slow]

True floatation foam is a closed cell foam.  It comes in two parts of liquid and you mix them when ready to use.  You need a good mix to get full expansion and you are working in seconds from the time you start the mix until it has to be poured.  It expands about 10 to 1 so you have to be very careful not to use too much because it will bust appart the boat.  Don't think for a minute it's going to stop expanding when if fills the confined area, it just makes the area it's in the size it's going to expand to.  

You normally put the floor in, drill pour holes and pour the foam in voids between the floor and the hull.

[low_pro]

This is what I will be using:

http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

For this job:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1227021296

I'm going to use the 2lb density and get two 8 cubic feet kits for a 14ft boat.  Two kits should be able to float 960lbs +/-.

[Way2slow]

Low Pro,

That looks like a mighty small area under the floor of you project boat to use 16 cubic feet of foam. I only used 21 cubic feet under the floor of a Stratos 285 Pro and most of the center to runners were 10 inches deep.

I got my calculations very close by laying plastic sheeting in the boat and counted the number of five gallons bucket of water it took to fill the areas I wanted to put foam. You only have to do 1/2 and double it for the other side.

I also used US Composits but I think mine was the four pound. An electric drill and paint sterring attachment works great also. I don't remember is I used acetone or laquer thinner but one of them worked great for keeping thinks clean.

[bass or bass ?]

When I did extensive work on my boat, I replaced the old open cell waterlogged foam in my boat. You must use closed cell foam.Your old foam was open cell or it would not have waterlogged. Foam from home improvement centers will also be open cell. Do not use it. I got sheets of closed cell foam from McMaster-Carr company. The sheets are 2" thick , 24"x54". Cost is $52.23 per sheet. I bought 4 sheets for my project, 16' fiberglass boat. McMaster-Carr phone number is 562-692-5911. This foam catalog number is 9334K27, polyethylene sheet, blue, 2" thick,24"x54". It is easily cut into pieces that fit your spaces using a serrated kitchen knife.This product is also available in other thicknesses. Call the company. They are very helpful and friendly, and will make sure you get what will work best for you. This product will work perfectly for your project. Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

[jtbrooks]

I found what I need.  It is called Foamular and is made by Owens Corning.  It is closed cell rigid insulation.  From my research it looks to be impervious to water.  The best thing is that it is only $18 per 4x8 sheet.  I will let you know how it works.  Why anyone would put open cell foam in a boat, confuses me.  

Thanks bass or bass. If the Foamular does not work out I will call the company you recommended.  

[jtbrooks]

More news.  I called a company that makes all kinds of foam products.  They advised me that there are many companies that make closed cell rigid insulation boards.  I asked her if she could get closed cell "marine" flotation foam and she said that she could but the Foamular stuff is the same.  The only difference would be the density of foam and the color.  The insulation companies color their foam for marketing purposes.  Owens corning pink, dow corning blue ect.  She also said the foamular should not absorb water and would be appropriate for my intended use.  

[low_pro]

Low Pro,

That looks like a mighty small area under the floor of you project boat to use 16 cubic feet of foam. I only used 21 cubic feet under the floor of a Stratos 285 Pro and most of the center to runners were 10 inches deep.

Thanks. I actually planned on only putting 8 cubic feet under the floor. The other 8 will be in the side walls when they are built. They should hold between 3.5 - 4 cubic feet per side.

Those are 2x6's for the stringers. So I figured an average of 4 inches high, 12 inches wide by 10 feet long (the boat is 14ft). That works out to 3.33 cubic feet on each side of the stringer.