Foam Question

[wideopen23]

I cut as hole in the bunk head to see what was under the deck of my boat. The boat came originaly with these blow up ball looking things for floation, well the boat is 28 years old and so are these balls. They where all flat and no good. I also noticed that where the rub rail rivets are there was some light shinning through some very small holes. I was thinking about getting some of that spray in foam and spray around the inside where the rubrail is for 2 reasons. 1 to help keep water from coming through these little holes, and 2 just in case I did ever sink it, it wont go far (floatation). Has any one ever done this?
Do you think it is worth it?
Thanks
Wideopen

[Techno]

Theres a couple things wrong with that.
That foam expands with force and if there is something in the way and no where for it to go it will move things. Floors hulls whatever.
That stuff is open cell foam and once water can get into it will hold more water than it will ever drain out.
If you could bag it and install it maybe.

Just my Oppy.

[wideopen23]

THat was my worry was the expansion? I didnt think about it soaking up water that is a good point. Any suggestions to this problem?

[Techno]

Rubrail, depends on your boat but if it is screwed on and comes off the easiest is to remove it and put a dab of your favorite goo at each screw location and any of those holes.
Sealed without crawling around or ripping out.

The floatation. I've considered mounting, gluing, glassing? layers of foam like blue styrofoam inside the boat where the space wouldn't matter.
Still not sure how much is needed or the best location, fore/aft. My only goal is to keep the boat floating so I don't lose it and the engine, mostly the engine. And if what ever the cause was for it to sink that if broken in peices the engine would still float.
Would hate to see the deck floating and the rest is sunk:D

[wideopen23]

Thats not a bad idea. What kind of foam do you recommend that doesnt soak up water?
I never thought about the boat breaking and the motor sink. That would be bad...I think I would cry.

[Techno]

Styrofoam. This foam is melted by poly resin so you have to use epoxy. I like the blue foam better than the white, it don't have that pebble texture and is more a foam than a pellet. I haven't checked though to see if its closed cell. Whether if stuck under water it will absorb it.

Either one is cheap and got at the hardware store. I've seen it 2" thick.

[wideopen23]

I guess I will have to do some testing. There has to be something out there. They make foam toys for the pool that dont soak up water. Good talkin with you talk it easy.

[heath brinkley]

I would fill them with 100% clear silicone, GE makes it.
It'll last (and work) forever.

[heath brinkley]

If your gonna do some testing test that first, and it'll be the only thing you test. Get it at Wal-Mart ( or almost anywhere) for a few bucks.

[wideopen23]

Thanks heath I will check that out.

[heath brinkley]

if you need some reassurance I had a jet ski on a lift. While at work we got about 8" of rain and some wicked waves. It broke our lift and proceeded to smash our jet ski into a dock pole for hours. The result was about a 24" crack in the fiberglass under the rubrail, which I discovered the first time out after the storm. I never could get it to plane off before I made it 100' it was half sunk I limped it back onto the beach and drained all the water out, let it dry for a couple days and jammed it full of silicone. That was 3 summers ago, all the wave pounding it's taken in three summers and it still wont leak, and a jetskis rubrail is almost always below the water line, whereas our boats should never see the water line.
Of course the silicone will do nothing for your floatation concerns.
good luck, Heath.

[wideopen23]

THats impressive stuff...you said you got it at Wal-Mart?
What kind of container does it come in?

[heath brinkley]

It comes in a tube and goes in a caulk gun. get it at wal or k-mart, home depot, lowe's, ect. It's made by GE.
JUST MAKE SURE you get 100 % silicone, they make caulk and caulk/silicone half/half. Get the 100% silicone and it will never dry and crack like caulk or caulk/silicone. Also make sure it's clear, they make it in white also but it's for other applications. the clear is indoor/outdoor used for sealing tubs, windows, sinks, ect.
I use it to seal the bolt holes on the transom when bolting on motors or jack plates, and have used it to seal the jet pumps on the sea doo's/jet ski's. that's the first time I used it to seal a huge gaping crack on a watercraft that was below the waterline.:eek: but it worked great.

[lokinutz]

Don't put tooooo much foam in that thing. You wont be able to float your cooler (IN your boat) again this year at Reckless!!

[sho305]

You could put that 3M 5200 on there too, but it don't come off easy so it would be more permanent. It is like silicone but tuffer. The silicone should work fine on it and is cheaper if it is just getting splash anyway. I just sealed a tub with it, don't ask.:rolleyes:

Another thing you could use is this closed foam, they make kids water toys out of it. Just seen a big barrel at wallymart of them. You can get it cut at a foam shop for you to size. Not remembering the name of it.