boat with no foam

[jarrpal001]

i purchased a 72 thunderbird shawnee and had to get the floor replaced. the person who did the work did a great job for a great price but i noticed when we tore the floor there was no foam installed prior. when he replaced it i dont believe he added it either.
should he have added it? should i worry about safety? now that the floor is in and fiberglassed how can i add foam now?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: boat with no foam

You can drill 2" holes in the deck, and use pour in foam. You then plug and reglass the plugs.

Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGBC9Z0g_o&feature=player_embedded

 

[saltwaterbluefish]

Re: boat with no foam

I believe the requirement for foam started mid 70s. I have a 1972 that got restored for the first time and no foam whatsoever in the boat. I did put foam back when I restored, but made sure I had drain channels so I would delay wet foam. Alot of people use the method Woodonglass mentions, but I think drain channels should somehow be included when pouring in foam. Coast Guard, Insurance companies, and some states require that you have it and it always is good for safety. If you always run close to land, have a bilge pump, and trust the work you may be able to get away with not having foam. However, if you run far away from shore or in an area that is prone to have rocks or logs pop up out of now-where put it in. Better to be safe then sorry. Wet foam is always better than losing a boat, gear or worse case scenario a life.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: boat with no foam

It would depend on how much floatation you will get out of the foam. If you cant put enough foam in there to float the boat if it were swamped..then its kinda a moot point. PFDs Are paramount for safety.

YD.