Flotation foam...Why?

[VegasNordie]

As a newbie here, and really familiar with a different style boat, the low freeboard big block jet boat...I have gotta ask with your bigger freeboard boats, and fishing boats, and outboard boats...Why does everyone insist on putting back in the foam that is most likely causing your rot issues. The first thing any of us do in the lower jet boats is tear all the foam out of the bows of our boats? Some say it adds structual integrity! I want to know what the structual integrity is? Is it for supporting the floor? Or the stringers? My 84 tahiti has zero foam! I would never put any foam in a boat again if it were me, but i figured i would ask. Maybe its because it is a whole nother animal. My boat has two full 2x6 stringers from transom to maybe 4' to the bow. With being at boat races i have seen many of the boats go down for various reasons, and the boats stick up in the air like lawn darts, and we simply hook a boat to it and pull it around without the drainplug in, and tug it around till it pops back up!

Im not trying to discourage from the foam, just want to know the reason why.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

It is called USCG regulations for boat manufacturer's. Yes poor construction methods and or poor maintenance habits will rot a hull every time. It is rare that foam is actually used for structural and that is a totally different weight/density foam. Take some time to read the USCG regulations to see what is required by builder's.

You can not compare racing boats with pleasure boats........ unless you compare the Honda civic with the Honda F-1 car.

Now if you own a boat and had removed the foam..... in the event of a sinking you are totally responsible.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

Nice that your boat floats like a navigation buoy, but my boat doesn't have a big air pocket in the front.
My boats are 95% metal, and would sink in 5 seconds.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

This is why:

If I got swamped, I'd rather have that to hold onto (and possibly salvageable) than have it sink to the bottom like a rock.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

just want to know the reason why.

http://www.aristocraftboats.com/fiberglassbrochures/Incomparable19page4.pdf for my boat, safety seems to be the reason for all the foam.
+
the above example is an interesting case. it's a stringer less boat. whether the foam adds to how solid it is, i don't know. but it could i suppose. fwiw, the ski locker in this type boat is the structural support in lieu of stringers from what i understand about it.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

Foam is a (the?) major structural component of my boat.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

i wonder if he knew his boat was sinking, that must of bin a big fish they caught to swamp the boat.

This is why:

If I got swamped, I'd rather have that to hold onto (and possibly salvageable) than have it sink to the bottom like a rock.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

overloaded and swamped by wake...^^^^^^^^^

 

[VegasNordie]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

all good replies...i use a big semi inner tube in my bow to hope the boat sticks up like a lawn dart a little bit longer for someone to hook onto it! I guess it may be different for us smaller jet boat guys!

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

If I recall currently foam is only required on boats under 21' long.

 

[oops!]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

this is a huge topic of conversation in the restoration section.
as bob vt mentioned if you dont replace it....thats your call
keep in mind i have seen 23 footers get swamped and go under in less than 5 seconds.....thats not a lot of time to understand that you have even been swamped, never mind grabbing your life jacket.

read the restoration section......there is lots there

 

[MaddysDaddy]

Re: Flotation foam...Why?

I"ve seen that photo of the swamped boat many times but never noticed how calm the water looks.