Foam Floatation

[JJBoatman]

Looking for information / manufactures of foam for filling pontoons / buoys. Local experience has been poor due to the foam getting water logged and complicating the situation. Is there a product that is "closed celled" or somehow impervious to saturation?

[JJBoatman]

Looking for information / manufactures of foam for filling pontoons / buoys. Local experience has been poor due to the foam getting water logged and complicating the situation. Is there a product that is "closed celled" or somehow impervious to saturation?

[JJBoatman]

Looking for information / manufactures of foam for filling pontoons / buoys. Local experience has been poor due to the foam getting water logged and complicating the situation. Is there a product that is "closed celled" or somehow impervious to saturation?

[JJBoatman]

My own search leads me to "closed cell crosslinked polyethylene". Does this choice seem right to anybody?

[JJBoatman]

My own search leads me to "closed cell crosslinked polyethylene". Does this choice seem right to anybody?

[JJBoatman]

My own search leads me to "closed cell crosslinked polyethylene". Does this choice seem right to anybody?

[Frank Wentzel]

Polyethylene foam is just the ticket! It doesn't even have to be the crosslinked variety. Polyethylene is immune to solvents and fuel - does not break down over time - flexible enough to follow the curvature of the hull - does not absorb water - hydrophobic - what more could anyone ask for. It is destroyed, as are most plastics, by sunlight. However, as flotation it would be well protected from exposure. You can glue it to your boat with hot melt adhesive or, if you apply it to the rough side, epoxy will stick just fine. (The smooth side will not bond to epoxy.) Ethafoam is one brand. Check out this link.

www.dow.com/perffoam/prod/ethafoam/ (http://www.dow.com/perffoam/prod/ethafoam/)

/// Frank ///

[Frank Wentzel]

Polyethylene foam is just the ticket! It doesn't even have to be the crosslinked variety. Polyethylene is immune to solvents and fuel - does not break down over time - flexible enough to follow the curvature of the hull - does not absorb water - hydrophobic - what more could anyone ask for. It is destroyed, as are most plastics, by sunlight. However, as flotation it would be well protected from exposure. You can glue it to your boat with hot melt adhesive or, if you apply it to the rough side, epoxy will stick just fine. (The smooth side will not bond to epoxy.) Ethafoam is one brand. Check out this link.

www.dow.com/perffoam/prod/ethafoam/ (http://www.dow.com/perffoam/prod/ethafoam/)

/// Frank ///

[Frank Wentzel]

Polyethylene foam is just the ticket! It doesn't even have to be the crosslinked variety. Polyethylene is immune to solvents and fuel - does not break down over time - flexible enough to follow the curvature of the hull - does not absorb water - hydrophobic - what more could anyone ask for. It is destroyed, as are most plastics, by sunlight. However, as flotation it would be well protected from exposure. You can glue it to your boat with hot melt adhesive or, if you apply it to the rough side, epoxy will stick just fine. (The smooth side will not bond to epoxy.) Ethafoam is one brand. Check out this link.

www.dow.com/perffoam/prod/ethafoam/ (http://www.dow.com/perffoam/prod/ethafoam/)

/// Frank ///

[Alan Peck]

I have researched various foams too. I also came up with polyethylene foam as a good choice.

The only problem is: Where can you buy it?
Does anyone know?

[Alan Peck]

I have researched various foams too. I also came up with polyethylene foam as a good choice.

The only problem is: Where can you buy it?
Does anyone know?

[Alan Peck]

I have researched various foams too. I also came up with polyethylene foam as a good choice.

The only problem is: Where can you buy it?
Does anyone know?

[Frank Wentzel]

Since it is used primarily as a packaging material is should be available at larger businesses that sell packing material such as plastic peanuts, bubble-pac and the like.

[Frank Wentzel]

Since it is used primarily as a packaging material is should be available at larger businesses that sell packing material such as plastic peanuts, bubble-pac and the like.

[Frank Wentzel]

Since it is used primarily as a packaging material is should be available at larger businesses that sell packing material such as plastic peanuts, bubble-pac and the like.

[Bruce Hooke]

I'm not sure if this would be suitable for your application because I don't know what size pieces of foam you need, but at least on the coast of Maine I had no problem getting big "logs" of pink "dock float" foam at the local lumber yard. I'm not sure if it's Polyethylene but it has lasted for about a dozen years as dock floatation on the coast of Maine (except in a couple of areas that get substantial sunlight where it has lost a couple of inches over the years). It looks to be the same stuff as some of the standard building foams that come in sheet form, if that is a better shape for your application. What definitely does not work is white "bead board" -- I pulled some of that out of a boat once and I swear it was so heavy it probably would have sunk if I'd dropped it in the water!

[Bruce Hooke]

I'm not sure if this would be suitable for your application because I don't know what size pieces of foam you need, but at least on the coast of Maine I had no problem getting big "logs" of pink "dock float" foam at the local lumber yard. I'm not sure if it's Polyethylene but it has lasted for about a dozen years as dock floatation on the coast of Maine (except in a couple of areas that get substantial sunlight where it has lost a couple of inches over the years). It looks to be the same stuff as some of the standard building foams that come in sheet form, if that is a better shape for your application. What definitely does not work is white "bead board" -- I pulled some of that out of a boat once and I swear it was so heavy it probably would have sunk if I'd dropped it in the water!

[Bruce Hooke]

I'm not sure if this would be suitable for your application because I don't know what size pieces of foam you need, but at least on the coast of Maine I had no problem getting big "logs" of pink "dock float" foam at the local lumber yard. I'm not sure if it's Polyethylene but it has lasted for about a dozen years as dock floatation on the coast of Maine (except in a couple of areas that get substantial sunlight where it has lost a couple of inches over the years). It looks to be the same stuff as some of the standard building foams that come in sheet form, if that is a better shape for your application. What definitely does not work is white "bead board" -- I pulled some of that out of a boat once and I swear it was so heavy it probably would have sunk if I'd dropped it in the water!

[PugetSound]

Polyethylene or rigid polyurethane, both work well as long as they are of the CLOSED CEll type. Both are used for docks and the only problem I have seen is that the stupid crabs think the soft foam is dinner so they chew the heck out of it. This is the reason that newer docks encase the foam in GRP or plastic. Any dock or marina supply outfit should be able to supply you or direct you to a retail outfit.

[PugetSound]

Polyethylene or rigid polyurethane, both work well as long as they are of the CLOSED CEll type. Both are used for docks and the only problem I have seen is that the stupid crabs think the soft foam is dinner so they chew the heck out of it. This is the reason that newer docks encase the foam in GRP or plastic. Any dock or marina supply outfit should be able to supply you or direct you to a retail outfit.

[PugetSound]

Polyethylene or rigid polyurethane, both work well as long as they are of the CLOSED CEll type. Both are used for docks and the only problem I have seen is that the stupid crabs think the soft foam is dinner so they chew the heck out of it. This is the reason that newer docks encase the foam in GRP or plastic. Any dock or marina supply outfit should be able to supply you or direct you to a retail outfit.

[Will]

Here's a foam link I saved off this forum . http://www.fpcfoam.com/

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-23-2001).]

[Will]

Here's a foam link I saved off this forum . http://www.fpcfoam.com/

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-23-2001).]

[Will]

Here's a foam link I saved off this forum . http://www.fpcfoam.com/

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-23-2001).]

[Pelican]

What about the two part pour in place stuff. Is it any good?

[Pelican]

What about the two part pour in place stuff. Is it any good?

[Pelican]

What about the two part pour in place stuff. Is it any good?

[Ian McColgin]

I get the stuff Defender sells. I mix small batches with a very strong paint stirrer on a drill. Have two small cups for measuring the two parts. Have abunch of bigger paper pots for mixing. Whip it quick and pour fast. There's always a bit of foam left in the pot which if you lay the pot on its side on a plank will sag into an entertaining lolling tunge . . .

[Ian McColgin]

I get the stuff Defender sells. I mix small batches with a very strong paint stirrer on a drill. Have two small cups for measuring the two parts. Have abunch of bigger paper pots for mixing. Whip it quick and pour fast. There's always a bit of foam left in the pot which if you lay the pot on its side on a plank will sag into an entertaining lolling tunge . . .

[Ian McColgin]

I get the stuff Defender sells. I mix small batches with a very strong paint stirrer on a drill. Have two small cups for measuring the two parts. Have abunch of bigger paper pots for mixing. Whip it quick and pour fast. There's always a bit of foam left in the pot which if you lay the pot on its side on a plank will sag into an entertaining lolling tunge . . .

[Dave Carnell]

The pink stuff is polyurethane closed cell. The white stuff is polyethylene closed cell.

The water absorption ratings are for only 24 hr. exposure. Long-term, they all absorb lots of water.

Floats reach a kind of equilibrium with water evaporating from the exposed surfaces as it is being absorbed in the submerged.

When encased in fiberglass, they soak up water and retain it and get very heavy.

This explains the SUNFISH and production power boats with foam flotation that weigh far more than when new. Any break in the fiberglass lets water in and it is absorbed, accumulates, and stays there.

[Dave Carnell]

The pink stuff is polyurethane closed cell. The white stuff is polyethylene closed cell.

The water absorption ratings are for only 24 hr. exposure. Long-term, they all absorb lots of water.

Floats reach a kind of equilibrium with water evaporating from the exposed surfaces as it is being absorbed in the submerged.

When encased in fiberglass, they soak up water and retain it and get very heavy.

This explains the SUNFISH and production power boats with foam flotation that weigh far more than when new. Any break in the fiberglass lets water in and it is absorbed, accumulates, and stays there.

[Dave Carnell]

The pink stuff is polyurethane closed cell. The white stuff is polyethylene closed cell.

The water absorption ratings are for only 24 hr. exposure. Long-term, they all absorb lots of water.

Floats reach a kind of equilibrium with water evaporating from the exposed surfaces as it is being absorbed in the submerged.

When encased in fiberglass, they soak up water and retain it and get very heavy.

This explains the SUNFISH and production power boats with foam flotation that weigh far more than when new. Any break in the fiberglass lets water in and it is absorbed, accumulates, and stays there.

[Henri]

Got to be carefull with this stuff. I bought about 5000# of bouyancy styrafoam from a salavage yard for 5$, some of it was waterlogged, must have been in a dock or floating something. Anyway, I've had it sitting out in the FL sun for some time, and it WILL NOT dry out. One of the entities I used to work for built ice bank refrigeration equip, and was dogged by condensate impregnation of styrafoam insulation, a water barrier was ultimately necessary even in on-land refrig equipment. I don't think its suitable where it makes water contact for any operiod of time.

[Henri]

Got to be carefull with this stuff. I bought about 5000# of bouyancy styrafoam from a salavage yard for 5$, some of it was waterlogged, must have been in a dock or floating something. Anyway, I've had it sitting out in the FL sun for some time, and it WILL NOT dry out. One of the entities I used to work for built ice bank refrigeration equip, and was dogged by condensate impregnation of styrafoam insulation, a water barrier was ultimately necessary even in on-land refrig equipment. I don't think its suitable where it makes water contact for any operiod of time.

[Henri]

Got to be carefull with this stuff. I bought about 5000# of bouyancy styrafoam from a salavage yard for 5$, some of it was waterlogged, must have been in a dock or floating something. Anyway, I've had it sitting out in the FL sun for some time, and it WILL NOT dry out. One of the entities I used to work for built ice bank refrigeration equip, and was dogged by condensate impregnation of styrafoam insulation, a water barrier was ultimately necessary even in on-land refrig equipment. I don't think its suitable where it makes water contact for any operiod of time.

[Will]

Dave , thanks for the Sunfish insight. The fish I grew up sailing was languishing in my brothers woodlot. Porcupines ate the sail for the salt, otherwise no lasting damage .I bought a new sail and cleaned her up for my little nieces use but she seemed heavy-we opened the drain plug of course and got some water .It now sounds like I need to open up the hull and go after that foam . Is it glued in ?I think I'll make a couple of holes the size of stock kayak hatches and at least see what's what.Will simply venting like this dry the foam? At least the water wasn't forced in under pressure , as would be the case of billets from the bottom of a floating dock .

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-30-2001).]

[Will]

Dave , thanks for the Sunfish insight. The fish I grew up sailing was languishing in my brothers woodlot. Porcupines ate the sail for the salt, otherwise no lasting damage .I bought a new sail and cleaned her up for my little nieces use but she seemed heavy-we opened the drain plug of course and got some water .It now sounds like I need to open up the hull and go after that foam . Is it glued in ?I think I'll make a couple of holes the size of stock kayak hatches and at least see what's what.Will simply venting like this dry the foam? At least the water wasn't forced in under pressure , as would be the case of billets from the bottom of a floating dock .

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-30-2001).]

[Will]

Dave , thanks for the Sunfish insight. The fish I grew up sailing was languishing in my brothers woodlot. Porcupines ate the sail for the salt, otherwise no lasting damage .I bought a new sail and cleaned her up for my little nieces use but she seemed heavy-we opened the drain plug of course and got some water .It now sounds like I need to open up the hull and go after that foam . Is it glued in ?I think I'll make a couple of holes the size of stock kayak hatches and at least see what's what.Will simply venting like this dry the foam? At least the water wasn't forced in under pressure , as would be the case of billets from the bottom of a floating dock .

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-30-2001).]