I need to find a floatation substance for a 14 foot boat I am redoing. Like a blow in insulation.?

Question

I tore out the floor and all the foam floatation material was soaked through. Need to replace it before I put down a new floor on this fiberblass tri-hull. Any sugestions on the the foam would be great,or putting down a new floor on the fiberglass for that matter. I thought about the foam in a can but I would need a few hundred cans to do the job, not too cost effecient. The substance would be right I think though.

Answer 1

Urethane foam has a density of 2 pounds per cubic foot.  Two pint cans yields about 10 to 12 cubic feet of foam when expanded.  so, only a few cans should do the trick.  The old foam should not have become water logged, it's close cell density was to low, more like one pound/ft cubed.  

        In your case ask for "pour" foam of atleast 2 # density.  Mix the foam then pour the foam in a couple "gates"  and let it come out a  vent.    Good Luck.

Answer 2

First, replace the plywood, (use exterior grade, marine is too costly. I always paint mine first with a good oil based primer, no need to topcoat). Once that is done, drill a few holes in the center of the ply, where the old flotattion was and use the expandable can stuff. Get the type with the highest expansion, some has a minimal rate.

Finally, fiberglass the floor completely, or at the edges, then replace the carpet.

Answer 3

they sell that at a marine store or you can go to home depot and use that expanding insulation in a can but its not cheap

Answer 4

You should use a two part polyurethane foam. You can get it in gallons and quarts all you do is mix it in the right proportion then it will rise. this is what they use in older boats i don't know what they use in newer boats. if you use this make sure you have the floor in therefore the foam will seal to the floor and you wont have to cut it.

Answer 5

you can try pourable polyurethane foam.

This sounds like what you are looking for.  I am not sure how easy it is to work with.  Below is a website I found they sells it.

http://www.marinefoam.com/polyurethanefo...