Expanding foam?

**STELLIX** · 05-28-2018, 08:32 PM

I was thinking of adding some foam between the floor and core on my Vector, after the recore it’s really loud, you can hear every ripple in the waiter. Any other ideas to deaden the sound ? I’m worried the foam may hold moisture.

**XstreamVking** · 05-28-2018, 10:35 PM

Foam or loud, i'll take loud. Foam is bad news. Carpet can help some with the hull slap noise. My boat sounds like you are going down a gravel road with the foam core in it.

**STELLIX** · 05-29-2018, 06:10 AM

I kinda thought the same thing about the foam. Even though I know my boat super solid , it sounds like it’s coming apart . I thought about adding a big inner tube under the front deck and see if that helps any , at least it would provide some flotation if there happens to be a mishap!

**STELLIX** · 05-29-2018, 09:03 AM

That’s a good way to describe the sound, like going down a gravel road. The first time I had it out in a very light chop I thought the hull was delaminating. It’s solid as a rock though

**FMP** · 05-29-2018, 09:44 AM

People still rebuild with foam, closed cell, the correct density. It adds some strength and sound comfort but most don't reuse in performance use. If you're not letting it sit in the rain and fill to the floor bow down like some idiots do over winter etc you probably never have an issue with it.

**XstreamVking** · 05-29-2018, 10:11 AM

True about problems with the foam under the floor. But if you do have water absorption, out comes the floor.....

**FMP** · 05-29-2018, 10:20 AM

What is it with the stuff? I can see a puncture from a screw or sharp glass edge but if done correctly it shouldn't wick up ?

**XstreamVking** · 05-29-2018, 10:44 AM

I have even seen the 3.0 density closed cell foam (the best)water logged that was sealed (we wish) in flotation boxes set on top of the floor. Wet and stinking with black mildew when opened up for a transom repair. Water has a very small molecular structure when compared to material that cannot change it's molecular structure back and forth, (solid, liquid, gas). It gets in darn near everything and foam having empty cells is a natural collector for it. I have also seen boston whalers with bone dry foam in the hull after 30 yrs...It is a conundrum. Foam, injected after being warmed seems to have different properties than poured foams that we have access to. I have been to whalers factory, and the foam process is very precise and done with great care to fill every nook and cranny. i also believe they have a propriety foam mixture with properties far above anyone else.

**STELLIX** · 05-29-2018, 10:49 AM

When I recored it I added a few extra layers of 1708 before the balsa and a few layers on top of the balsa and didn’t skimp on the resin like the factory did and gelcoated the entire interior, I feel like it’s sealed from moisture pretty good . It stays covered and inside a barn and never left out to get wet. I never want to have to go through all that work again. I thought if I used the pour in closed cell foam between the floor and the hull on the outer sections of the stringers leavening the center of the stringers open for drainage may be ok but I don’t want to do it if y’all think it’ll cause problems.

**FMP** · 05-29-2018, 10:53 AM

Could be mor e the foams ability to maintain a boundary through an extreme temperature range, surface porosity changes. Have to love those Whalers

**nitro_rat** · 05-29-2018, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by STELLIX

I don’t want to do it if y’all think it’ll cause problems.

If there’s no foam, there’s no chance for it to cause a problem. If you put foam in, you’re rolling the dice no matter how good of a job you do...

**XstreamVking** · 05-29-2018, 11:09 AM

Whaler foam has the smallest cell structure I have ever seen. Might be the heating of the components causing a very quick reaction leaving little time for moisture in the air to get in. (they water cool their molds) All I know is that almost every boat I ever cut open with pour foam had wet foam in it. It is a crap shoot with the stuff. It can also deform the hull when poured in a confined area as it has a lot of expansion force.