I will be pulling "Blew by You" out in a couple of months and want to inject foam into the space below the V berth (Mac Venture 22) It's approximately 25 cubic feet. I need a good quality expansion foam that does not absorb water. Any thoughts? Thanks Richard
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the first question is Why?
If the anwser is only floatation- seal the vberth area or build a box (metal, wood, fiberglass) into the area which will give a larger floatation of captive air than filling with foam. Sealed, empty anti-freeze jugs with screw tops will float your boat. Most, if not all, foams are highly flamable. A cavity fill this small can be quite expensive and will need to be covered with fire resistant covering. I would not recommend foam.
If the anwser is only floatation- seal the vberth area or build a box (metal, wood, fiberglass) into the area which will give a larger floatation of captive air than filling with foam. Sealed, empty anti-freeze jugs with screw tops will float your boat. Most, if not all, foams are highly flamable. A cavity fill this small can be quite expensive and will need to be covered with fire resistant covering. I would not recommend foam.
do not go foam
i would not go with foam. it is a mess to deal with. the fumes are terrible to work around also. there is a danger that if you use too much, it can bulge the hull out if it gets trapped somewhere that it can not expand.....it will expand. i almost blew up a model boat i built adding foam flotation. it is also either permanent or a real mess to remove. it may reduce resale if the possible future buyer would rather have the storage. also, foam can absorb water and get very heavy. i would suggest one of two alternatives. pack a lawn, leaf , and garden bag full of styrofoam peanuts. then tripple bag and seal each one. this way, you can remove it if you need to. might even find a way to use beanbag chairs. the other, more expensive choice is to buy bouyancy bags....they make them just for this purpose. they can be deflated during the off season so the boat can breathe.
i would not go with foam. it is a mess to deal with. the fumes are terrible to work around also. there is a danger that if you use too much, it can bulge the hull out if it gets trapped somewhere that it can not expand.....it will expand. i almost blew up a model boat i built adding foam flotation. it is also either permanent or a real mess to remove. it may reduce resale if the possible future buyer would rather have the storage. also, foam can absorb water and get very heavy. i would suggest one of two alternatives. pack a lawn, leaf , and garden bag full of styrofoam peanuts. then tripple bag and seal each one. this way, you can remove it if you need to. might even find a way to use beanbag chairs. the other, more expensive choice is to buy bouyancy bags....they make them just for this purpose. they can be deflated during the off season so the boat can breathe.
I agree with Robert
Do not use foam, the expanding foam may keep expanding for years. The bouyancy bags are the best way to go, designed for the purpose and removeable.
Do not use foam, the expanding foam may keep expanding for years. The bouyancy bags are the best way to go, designed for the purpose and removeable.
How's this idea?
What if I go to MailBoxes Etc. 9or some other shipping co.) and buy enough foam peanuts to fill the area under the V-berth - put them inside heavey duty fall leaf/garbage bags and tie them off. Maybe double bag too. Then stuff them in the void and put the cover back on with a butterfly toggle to keep the cover in place. Inexpensive, high floatation and non-permenant. What do you think? Richard
What if I go to MailBoxes Etc. 9or some other shipping co.) and buy enough foam peanuts to fill the area under the V-berth - put them inside heavey duty fall leaf/garbage bags and tie them off. Maybe double bag too. Then stuff them in the void and put the cover back on with a butterfly toggle to keep the cover in place. Inexpensive, high floatation and non-permenant. What do you think? Richard
Foam - my expericence
I have used 'great stuff' aka foam in the can, for years. It is not really closed cel, but doensnt asorb too much water, if the foam is not cut. (ie., the expansion was allowed to run normally. once you cut off the 'sealed' ends it does asorb some water, and more importantly it will asorb smells and hold dirt and oil.) having said that, I have used it in my mac 26D. I used it to fill in the voids between stryofoam, and as a glue to hold foam blocks to the sides of the hull. I like the foam peanuts better, as they are easy to remove. -just dont get too confident that the foam will really float to boat upright, should it try to sink. IMHO, i expect my boat to turn turtle and float upside down. hopefully it will still float, after all the other stuff (weigth) I added. ps: i used a bunch of foam noodles in one area, as I often use these to swim, and then store in area for floatation.
I have used 'great stuff' aka foam in the can, for years. It is not really closed cel, but doensnt asorb too much water, if the foam is not cut. (ie., the expansion was allowed to run normally. once you cut off the 'sealed' ends it does asorb some water, and more importantly it will asorb smells and hold dirt and oil.) having said that, I have used it in my mac 26D. I used it to fill in the voids between stryofoam, and as a glue to hold foam blocks to the sides of the hull. I like the foam peanuts better, as they are easy to remove. -just dont get too confident that the foam will really float to boat upright, should it try to sink. IMHO, i expect my boat to turn turtle and float upside down. hopefully it will still float, after all the other stuff (weigth) I added. ps: i used a bunch of foam noodles in one area, as I often use these to swim, and then store in area for floatation.
The "Right Stuff"?
Specially made to meet USCG requirements: http://rhhfoamsystems.com/literature/mfb-1/ Although floatation is not generally required for a sailboat, if your boat's original specifications included it, your insurance company might not cover a loss if you've removed or reduced its effectiveness. See CG requirements on link below. Remember, a floating boat is much easier for the CG to spot from the air than someone floating in a life jacket. Happy sails *_/), MArk
Specially made to meet USCG requirements: http://rhhfoamsystems.com/literature/mfb-1/ Although floatation is not generally required for a sailboat, if your boat's original specifications included it, your insurance company might not cover a loss if you've removed or reduced its effectiveness. See CG requirements on link below. Remember, a floating boat is much easier for the CG to spot from the air than someone floating in a life jacket. Happy sails *_/), MArk
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