Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

[wendell42]

I am looking into filling the pontoons on my boat with Polyurethane expanding pouring foam. The questions I have are as follows: Has anyone ever done this before?? How can I figure out how much foam I will need? Any suggestions or ideas on how to get the stuff in there would be appreciated! I am looking at doing this in small amounts and layering the foam in there as I have no idea on how I would do it all at once. I think this would also limit the possibility of putting too much in and rupturing the pontoon. I mainly want to do this to make the boat virtually (shall I say it?) unsinkable!<br /><br />Thanks for your input!<br /><br />Wayne

 

[Bondo]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

I Think you're making a Big Mistake...........<br /><br />Just put Foam board Under the floor.......<br />Much Easier,+ Safer......

 

[Formula1974]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

If you know someone that can weld aluminum you could probably cut one end off the pontoon and pour the foam like they use on monster garage into it when its full put the end on and weld it. BUT I think the stuff is flamable so maybe its not a good idea. I havent had a pontoon boat (yet, I really want one) so I dont know if this is feasable or not.

 

[Toontime]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

So..., if you get water in the foam, how ya gonna get it out? Ain't no way I would do that! Besides, there ain't no such thing as an unsinkable boat. Remember the Titanic?<br /><br />What's your real end goal, anyway?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

Eventually, water will get inside, get absorbed into the foam, and make the boat weigh a ton more, literally. You will not be able to dry that foam out. <br /><br />As stated above, placing large sheets of foam under the deck may be the way to go.<br />Or look into adding a third pontoon, cheap if from a salvaged boat.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

Most pontoons, at least modern ones have multiple chambers in the log, so if opne was punctured, the log would still float. If you don't have this type, you may want to find a boat that does..

 

[flashback]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

I would say Bondo is on the money, just put some foam blocks/panels in-between the braces under the floor....if you fill the toons with foam, as said above, they will eventually get water logged. and in addition to adding weight, it will also cause the aluminum to corrode from the inside out....you won't need much foam under the floor to hold the boat up even if the toons were full of water... (fill a beer can with water in the bathtub and see how easy it is to keep it from sinking. water weighs the same whether it is on the inside or the outside the only thing you need to support is the weight of the boat.....

 

[jofish]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

My neighbor ripped the deck he had just put in right out of his Jon-boat with that foam in a can he wasn't looking for flotation just trying to sound proof the bottom some. When they say exspanding they mean it, this was a wood deck ,I would guess the alum. would be much stronger but do you really want to risk it?The leak issue would worry me if the pontoon didn't split one gallon of water weighs almost 9 pounds you get even a small amount in that foam it's gonna affect you boat bigtime.I liked Roscoe's suggestion of a third pontoon. Might even improve the way she handles??

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Filling (Aluminum) pontoons with foam

The foam alone (dry), would add a ton of weight.