Floatation foam question

A

Andrew Holley

Well-known member
If you read my trailer question post, you know I am building a rather large boat. I am at the point of needing to add floatation foam. I thought about buying the two part stuff from US Compsites, however, I have a customer that sprays insulation foam in building and he has volunteered to spray the compartments in the boat if I want. He says he believes it would be the same stuff, a "ploy" closed cell 2 lb denisty foam.

My cost with him would be significantly cheaper than ordering the stuff, due to the volume I need. Where I will be putting the foam, it will be complete sealed and if water gets in there, I would have more problems the just wet foam.

I have seen the stuff and it looks just the US Compsite stuff and the original Great Stuff.

Anybody an expert of this stuff?
 
Andrew,

I'm no "expert" but from what I've read and/or been told, I have to believe it would work just fine. He is correct thats it is the same product.
 
I think the density is a little different But it should work just fine , you have it in a seals compartment so when he sprays it in there it will make a hard shell on the out side of the foam witch does not let moisture in. If I had a source like that I would use it
 
Andrew, I think I'd go for it. Just for giggles ya might take a golf ball sized peice and drop it in a can of gas to see if it disolves. I put a piece of the U.S Comp stuff in gas for a week with no damage to it but that was just for my piece of mind.
 
Greetings,
I have a VERY helpful USCG publication that goes through all the flotation, power, and electrical mandates for a home built boat. it's a 450KB WORD file, so i can't attach it here.
When i save as a .txt file, I lose all the formatting, and it's impossible to read (but it's only 70KB!!)
If you send an email to: d.quane@intest.com, i can reply with the file.
Can't find the web link.

That said, i agree with David Clark, that the USCG does not require basic/level flotation, safe powering etc.. as they do with craft under 20ft (go figure)

My only addition to the flotation question is to be sure and do your volume and displacement calculations precisely, and if you use 2LB foam, then it will only float 60.4LB per Cubic Ft (not 62.4 like air)
SO 1Cubic foot of foam would float 60.4 Lbs.
for level flotation, you need to float the boat when its loaded

Dave
 
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