Foam or Not !

[R Socey]

Before I glass my stringers back in, I was wondering if I should put flotation
foam in between them. I have decided that if I do ( you guys will be the biggest part of that decision) I was going to go with the block type. I have already foamed the air gap in the console/baitwell, including the bottom, and lid - the fish box will get six sides done as well, with glassed in
styrofoam - for it's insulating properties. I thought now is the time to decide. I plan to take my boat offshore someday, and I was wondering if
I could put enough in it to float it? If not, would it still make the craft more
desirable for its other qualities - quietness, structual etc. Would you do it
if it was free, and you didn't have to do the work?http://www.marinefoam.com/styrofoam.html?page_type=flotation-foams&link_type=image

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Foam or Not !

Glass first..then install the foam..

As far as Your boat..I dont know your boat..so I cant say .

Give a little more Info here on the specifics of your boat...

YD.

 

[R Socey]

Re: Foam or Not !

You can't glass first. The largest area to foam is BETWEEN the
stringers - 1983 wellcraft 248 fisherman cc With cuddy, and
max rated hp - twin 1985 150 etxk yamaha 2 stroke standard
rotation v6 big blocks.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Foam or Not !

View attachment 80958 You can't glass first. The largest area to foam is BETWEEN the
stringers - 1983 wellcraft 248 fisherman cc With cuddy, and
max rated hp - twin 1985 150 etxk yamaha 2 stroke standard
rotation v6 big blocks.

OOk.. then dont glass your stringers in..and then foam..

foam first..then glass your stringers in .. Good luck m8..

YD.

 

[oops!]

Re: Foam or Not !

OOk.. then dont glass your stringers in..and then foam..

foam first..then glass your stringers in .. Good luck m8..

YD.

BAAAAA HAAAAA HAAAAA
.....oops yells as he falls on the floor laughing.

 

[oops!]

Re: Foam or Not !

ok....im calm now......lol

some hulls require foam due to the anti crush of the foam.......so it depends on the make of the boat.

if you dont use the foam on a hull that needs it.....i would stay close to shore!

 

[oops!]

Re: Foam or Not !

if you mean that the foam is in the stringer channels.....that means the foam was just a shape to glass over.
but i dont know if wellcraft used foam stringers back then....i really dont think so.

but looking at your channels you have left for the stringers.....that glass is thin....that means mist likely they used wood....not foam.
a glass stringer is much thicker.

 

[R Socey]

Re: Foam or Not !

:facepalm: There was no foam in my boat at all. I want to know if I should
put some in it - since I have it tore apart.

 

[oops!]

Re: Foam or Not !

foaming a boat that has none is a personal choice.

foam has good things and bad things.

but there is none in my 25 footer. foam rots stringers it it isnt done correctly

 

[R Socey]

Re: Foam or Not !

This is suppose to be a yes or no poll. The type of foam I would use doe's not absorb water - nothing will rot my stringers in my
lifetime when I'm done.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Foam or Not !

nothing will rot my stringers in my lifetime when I'm done.

Ayuh,... yer That old, eh,..??

I voted No...

 

[oops!]

Re: Foam or Not !

This is suppose to be a yes or no poll. The type of foam I would use doe's not absorb water - nothing will rot my stringers in my
lifetime when I'm done.

yes or no to this question isnt that simple.

they all absorbe water....(after time)..all of them.

as far as in your life time.......water intrusion in foam can happen even in the best foams quite quickly.....as soon as 4 years or sooner pending treatment of boat

 

[arrowhunter2010]

Re: Foam or Not !

a good rule of thumb when knowing how much foam to use is for every 30 lbs you need one pound of foam

 

[arrowhunter2010]

Re: Foam or Not !

and if something does happen that means at least something will be floating to hold onto or at least identify as the wreck site. I voted yes

 

[R Socey]

Re: Foam or Not !

Thanks - thats helpful. If I decide to foam, I will coat the foam with epoxi - I don't think water will then be able to encroach.
I don't want to get it all back together, and later wished I had
foamed it. Thanks for your help - this is a big decision for me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Foam or Not !

and if something does happen that means at least something will be floating to hold onto or at least identify as the wreck site.

Ayuh,... Just like a Ship wreck, there's Floatsam,...
Grab onto a Cooler, 'n hang on...
'course, wearin' yer PFD helps too...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Foam or Not !

The thing about water .. H2O molucules are small..I mean really small..

Over time..it will "encroach"..

If you really want floatation..use ping pong balls. .. .. Hey Mythbusters did it .

YD.

Ps. Im riding In bondo's boat on this one..

 

[R Socey]

Re: Foam or Not !

What about these billets - they float docks with them. How much does a million ping pong balls cost?http://www.marinefoam.com/styrofoam.html?page_type=flotation-foams&link_type=image

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Foam or Not !

Hmmm lets get techincal....foam will displace water.....most 17 to 25 ' boats have the capacity to fill about about 100-300 gallons of water in there voids...Ok i think water weighs about 8lbs per gallon...do your own math. Built in anchor or not.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Foam or Not !

This is starting to sound like MG or AC plywood. All of the bass boats I restore have had foam in them. Never done a 25' CC or larger. I always put the foam back as the manufacturer did. Now I have removed lots of water soaked foam along with rotten stringers, but I just try to seal everything better than the factory did and pour the foam back in.

I voted no on the poll, it said for 25' CC and from what I've read most of them don't have it.