Throughout the boat I have all these pieces of broken old hard foam pieces. Can I get rid of them, they don't seem to be doing anything? I'm lake sailing so I don't plan on taking on waves. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks
Flotation Foam on a 22
- Thread starter gRussell
- Start date
Some of it in the stern, just looks nasty all broken up and shoved in the spaces. I assume there is more under the v-berth as well.
There is a ton of it under the vberth and under the port side berth - I had to discard a vast amount of it (at one time the boat was infested with mice) and I am currently working on replacing it. I plan on using larger solid sheets - I am waiting on a source for 8'x4' x4" sheets of styrofoam for cheap - failing that there is always the dollar store pool noodles.
I would personally recommend keeping it and maybe cleaning it up. One of my projects is to wall off the foam under the cockpit.
I would personally recommend keeping it and maybe cleaning it up. One of my projects is to wall off the foam under the cockpit.
thats what I was thinking.
I think I'll plan the same and build something to house it. Thanks for the input and ideas.
If it is not disintegrating it will still float. Mine looks rough too but you really have to crawl around to see it. So it stays.
Besides, my wife gets uncomfortable when the sailing gets spirited, so it helps to remind her the boat won't sink !
Besides, my wife gets uncomfortable when the sailing gets spirited, so it helps to remind her the boat won't sink !
The 22 came with enough foam to make it unsinkable, well, it would float with the cabin top just above the water. Over the years my foam has been remover, or dislodged, I doubt if I'm unsinkable anymore. Unsinkable is a mindset not a practical reality. Leave the foam if it's not in the way, remove it if you want the storage space. Keep a life vest handy in either case.
Thanks for all the info... I'll be getting new foam and building a "locker" for it aft and reorganizing it under the V-berth.
My O'day 22 sat in a field for years and eventually filled with water. The previous owner would have been better off taking an ax and punching a hole in the bottom to prevent water build up and repairing the hole when he wanted to put the boat back in use. Anyway, I had a lot of work to do. Removing the foam was job one. I sail on a 1300 acre lake that is full of boats on the weekend. On a busy saturday I worry about getting run over not sinking. I made significant modifications to the boat. One of which was removing the foam under the cockpit, raising the cockpit a few inches and making a birth under it. (good double for kids) Take your cell phone, have or wear PFD's and remove the foam itf it's nasty, stinky and must go.
P.S. I filled my keel with lead so could not count on the boat floating anyway.
P.S. I filled my keel with lead so could not count on the boat floating anyway.
I'd just like to suggest that on anything but a small lake..... consider the cell phone as considerably less vital than a good VHF. Even a handheld VHF radio is FAR better than most if not all cell phones for emergency comunications. VHF will reach out to every nearby boat also equipped with one, cell phone only reaches the one number that you dialed (and even then... well, I wouldn't count on it out on the water!). 911 is land-based and often is answered far inland, by someone who most likely has zero local knowledge of local boating areas, ansd where the closest Coast Guard or other rescue station would be located.
Cell Phone does have one super good point, secrecy....... can't be listened to by others..... but if I needed help, well..... I WANT everyone to hear!
If you plan on using cell phone to call for help, preprogram in the number of the local USCG/Habormaster/State Marine Patrol. *CG no longer works.
Cell Phone does have one super good point, secrecy....... can't be listened to by others..... but if I needed help, well..... I WANT everyone to hear!
If you plan on using cell phone to call for help, preprogram in the number of the local USCG/Habormaster/State Marine Patrol. *CG no longer works.
Keep in mind that no one has a VHF on Falls Lake. It's is about 1/2 mile wide. Getting rid of the foam is OK. Just be sure you have enough life jackets on board.
If the boat has been sitting I would recommend removing all the foam - I hadn't' removed the foam under the cockpit - when I did I found a bunch of water and a real mess.
I have been watching craigslist - I lucked on a guy selling large styrofoam coolers and bought 10 of them for $10 - they are like 18" x 18" and over 2" thick in most places - I am going to use those as replacement foam and to put a cooler on board.
I have been watching craigslist - I lucked on a guy selling large styrofoam coolers and bought 10 of them for $10 - they are like 18" x 18" and over 2" thick in most places - I am going to use those as replacement foam and to put a cooler on board.
I've got lots of life jackets so I'm not worried if I have to ditch out on Falls lake. I'm going to still see about putting in some new foam once I get around to really digging into the cabin.
Thanks again
If you want to replace the foam I suggest you simply pick up some foam board and the local home depot or equivalent. You can cut everything square and easily bond it together. About $10 per 3 1/2" X 4' X 8' sheet.
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/145/d2/d2702e5a-2973-427b-9aa6-0353fdd2bf21_145.jpg
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/145/d2/d2702e5a-2973-427b-9aa6-0353fdd2bf21_145.jpg
Is there such a thing as inflatable bladders that one could put in a boat for flotation to replace that nasty yellow foam. I'm sure that I am not the first one to think about that. It sure would be nice to be able to "deflate" your foam and take it out for maintenance!
I've got water (from above, not below) in places that I didn't even know I had places. And some of them are in compartments filled with the nasty yellow foam.
I've got water (from above, not below) in places that I didn't even know I had places. And some of them are in compartments filled with the nasty yellow foam.
I can pull my foam floatation when necessary.
Sounds like your "nasty yellow foam" was poured in place?
Sounds like your "nasty yellow foam" was poured in place?
I'm assuming so, under the forward hatch in my v-berth lives what we affectionately refer to as "the blob".
Over the idle years apparently water has accumulated in this area, and now the compartment just aft of "the blob" shows signs of deterioration and the 'glass inside that compartment is cracking and even breaking in points and it is constantly moist. I'm guessing the wood filler is holding the moisture. Problem is, I can't get "the blob" out without cutting him to pieces and making a big mess.
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