making a rib

[fnsteve]

Has anyone tried putting expanding foam in the hull of an older inflatable under the floor to make a rib ..is the foam strong enough To hold up does it have any reaction to hypalon.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: making a rib

been thinking of something along those lines myself, inly running 2 strips of thin plywood on either side of the inflatable keel and running foam between the ply and the floorboard, still working out how to make it able to be broken down if need be...

 

[nobrainsd]

Re: making a rib

Part of the problem with expanding foam is that it is very difficult to get a consistant blow in the relatively restricted space. Theoretically not a big deal, but practically impossible. In addition, most of the foams you would use are not that structurally strong when cured unless they are molded under pressure. The cell structure will tend to deteriorate under the stresses applied. There are ribs with foam filled tubes, but they are molded in advance rather than just filled. I would be stoked to see someone pull this off, but I would hesitate to do this to a boat with value.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: making a rib

was thinking of a couple upright spacers between the ply and flooring, using foam to help hold things in place, or even kind of boxing the ply pottom round the ends and side where the center bladder is, with the flooring on top but not screwed down, that way i can break down in sections if needed.

 

[azzurro]

Re: making a rib

No way.
Low bending resistance and contact surface vibration will cause turbulence.
Low weight and keel depth will not cut waves.
If glued to foam, hull patching will be hell.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: making a rib

good to know

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: making a rib

Better unglue complete floor fabric with attached inflatable keel, throw away your alum pannel hull, get an old rigid hull in good shape that matches tube contours and glue tubes to it, then you will have a perfect low cost semi rigid rib.

Happy Boating