To Foam or Not To Foam

[Wilson]

Even though the foam is not supposed to be as absorbant as in the past. it still has th ability to hold water in pockets and between the fiberglass and the foam.

[kev-n-tim]

I understand that there are two types of foam, open and close cell. Do you think that closed cell foam would limit H2O intrusion?

Mike

[Seadog]

Yea - but closed cell foam isn't water proof.  
The word is it will absorb some water over time.  
But probably a lot less than the open celled foams they used in some our older hulls.

[gotoml]

I am close to starting a rebuild on a flatback and I got an idea from Carolina Skiff for box beam construction. They use the method on their skiffs and Sea Chasers. The idea is to have no voids in the bilge to collect water. It would also stiffen the boat up and give it a nice solid ride.

Check it out here:
http://www.carolinaskiff.com/Default.aspx?tabid=96
http://www.carolinaskiff.com/Default.aspx?tabid=103

http://www.carolinaskiff.com/Default.aspx?tabid=96
http://www.carolinaskiff.com/Default.aspx?tabid=103[/url]

[Wilson]

Good luck.  I hope it works out for you.  I am convinced that water will get anywhere.  

This may help you.
http://www.preforms.com/mainpage1.htm

I looked into these, but decided to build my own, in the end.

[JimCt]

Would FL (warm water year round) boats have the wet stringer problem more commonly that cold water (3 month season) boats.  Example: I'm looking at two 70's 17'ers.  One of them is in Maine and is overboard maybe 1 month max per year.  The other one is overboard only when used.  Don't know if this is typical, but it seems to me that northern short-season boats might be free of the problem.

Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,
I have filled my intire hull (19.6) CC with foam, including stringers. Make sure you use closed cell foam it doesn't rot and shouldn't absorb any water.. Ther are different types, they are 2 component foams the activator inthe foam determes which density the foam will have once cured. Only 2 pound foam (2lbs per sq ft) is recognised by the Us Coastguard as foatation enhancing. However the 2 lbs foam is not reallty hard enough to hold floors. You want to use 4 lbs foam for that. I have 4 lbs under the floors and 2 lbs in the sides. Got it from FGCI, they also have a rep in Ft Lauderdale (Joe's Autosupply or something like that)
Good luck.