Floatation Foam -Think Tank

[mutron77]

What do you think about this idea?<br /><br />Couldn't you say, lay plastic sheeting in your void, then slap a board on top and apply the foam.<br />Then, you can pull out the plastic and the preshaped foam piece will come out with it. You can then encapsulate the preshaped foam piece with an "ablsolutely" waterproof coating (suggestions), Install some drain holes in your stringers to allow for venting and getting water to the bilge. I plan on using a small piece of PVC for each drain hole and using boat drain plugs to seal the compartments when I'm on the lake. I will have acccess to the plugs, two in the bilge area and two forward where I am installing a hatch for ventiation and access to the center draining area.<br /><br />H90

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

coat it with Epoxy ??!!?

 

[Ken G]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

In theory that sounds like a good idea but in my opinion it sounds like more trouble than it is worth. I don't know about the expansion properties of the foam but it seems like it would form pretty tightly in your compartments. You'd probably tear it up trying to pull your molded pieces out. Then to make them 'absolutely' waterproof you would add the expense of a couple of coats of epoxy or something else that would make the blocks slightly larger thus making them an even tighter fit back into your compartments. <br /><br />Personally, I wouldn't drill drainage holes in the stringers I'd put them in the cross braces. I'd want the water draining longitudinally toward the stern not laterally. Also, leave the plugs out, you don't want to be collecting water and holding it in your compartments while you are underway, you want it to drain into the bilge area and be pumped out. Also, make sure you seal around any drainage holes that you do add, you don't want to allow water an access point into the wood areas of your structural members.<br /><br />If you can keep the majority of the water from getting beneath your floor and allowing for any that does to drain out the new foams should last a long time.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

As long as you have limber holes in each stringer, water should make its way to the bilge. On mine, I have the holes at the rear at the bottom of each stringer. If any water should ever get in, it will make its way to the rear, through the hole onto the next stringer void, and so on until it reaches the bilge. I have not had any water issues since the rebuild (other than a repair to a problem area on the hull bottom). You could coat the foam with poly resin, the good foams can be coated with it, but the good foams are very resistant, resistant enough that an additional coating would add very little benefit. The key is ensure all wood is fully encapsulated, making sure there is good drainage, and trying to just keep as much water out as possible.

 

[thehermit]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

I was watching this post and have an additional question. <br /><br />Why do you even need foam below deck? I understand it would make the boat less "sinkable" but would it make it any more boyany? Building on the displacement theroy does it add weight without float? <br /><br />I have torn up my deck and am considering adding foam where there was none. (22 ft CC) I dont know if this is a good idea or not....help..comments?

 

[CCrew]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

You gain no bouyancy at all. <br /><br />Basically the reason for foam is that from 1972 on the USCG mandated that a boat be able to maintain bouyancy at the surface should it incur damage that would normally sink it. Basically not a bad mandate, as it gives search and rescue teams something to find and increases survivability for the passengers by giving them something to cling to. <br /><br />Due to the fact that it's a regulation, my guess is that negligence charges could result if you removed the foam and an incident occurred that resulted in loss of life or injury..And to me, common sense alone says that the $200 or so tops that you'd have to invest is really a small price in that light<br /><br />-Roger

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Hermit, the amount of weight the foam adds is negligable. The amount of water it displaces is dramatic. The boat won't sit any higher in the water, it will just displace more water. I personally feel there is not such thing as too much foam. If done properly you have an unsinkable boat. Not only does it stay afloat for rescue, but it can also keep the powerhead of an outboard above water, saving you that whole submerged motor trauma.

 

[thehermit]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

JasonJ,<br /><br />Area you saying if foamed you do not affect your "waterline" unless you add weight (like a boat load of gear or traps) then the foam starts to work for you?<br /><br />I have seen the beast pix-did you foam between any of the stringers before putting the deck back down?<br /><br />In addition, is there a closed cell foam (one that dosnt gain weight when you add water) that you do not have to encapsulate? <br /><br />thehermit

 

[thehermit]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

I have searched through the foam and have answered many of my own questions. But let me not discourage any new "to foam or not to foam" epinions.<br />Thanks…hermit

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

keep in mind foam is REQUIRED by law. also, the<br />newer closed cell foams avail. will not retain <br />water like the old foams did.<br />that said, I have often thought it is best to plan<br />for water intrusion and to go out of your way to<br />allow a free flowage to the bilge.<br />good luck,<br />M.Y.

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Is there a list anywhere of boats built with/without foam?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Ayuh,....

Did you have to bring up a 4 Year Old thread to ask that question,..??..??

Btw,..... Nope....

 

[Mark42]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Ayuh,....

Did you have to bring up a 4 Year Old thread to ask that question,..??..??

Btw,..... Nope....

Come on, Bondo, give the new guy a break! He's actually using the Search Feature!!!

 

[Coors]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Lol, I tell them to use search, also.

 

[Coors]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Is there a list anywhere of boats built with/without foam?

Most have them; some better boats don't.
I can't remember; so pizzed at mine; keep searching; try new threads, last 20 pages. I think it is another forum.
Mark will know.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Come on, Bondo, give the new guy a break! He's actually using the Search Feature!!!

Ayuh,....

The old archives are Great for reading,....
But,..
I don't think joining a 4 year old conversation is so Great....
Why not just start a New thread to ask your Questions.......
After all,....
We tend to jump on posters for Hy-jacking a current thread with unrelated Questions....

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

Bondo,
always agreed with your wisdom..here the however;
There is a list of boats with NO foam floatation.
Here's a short list:
http://www.esryle.com/coblinks/links/SUBLINKS2h.html
The only foam in my boat is on top of my beer.

 

[contractorguy]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

http://www.esryle.com/coblinks/links/SUBLINKS2h.html

that's funny

 

[mspring]

Re: Floatation Foam -Think Tank

I dont know about the rest of you guys but I dont plan on letting the coast gaurd tear up my new deck to look and see if I put foam under it.

But if they do find some way to look under there they wont find any foam except under my fuel tank which will be a very small amount just to protect the tank from getting a hole rubbed in it by the hull or stringers.

I plan on putting my foam in the top cap all around, in the front around the anchor locker, and in the back around my baitwell and dry storage areas so if it does somehow gain moisture it will be gravity drained, yet if I do take on a large amount of water my boat will still remain at the top long enough for me to rescue my beer and call for .