floor replacement in starcraft! doi replace the foam

[Ontario Boy]

I'm replacing the floor in my old starcraft spirit and the old foam in the floor is garbage and I need to know if I can just remove it or do I need to replace it? this is my first boat so any input we be help full.

 

[StarTed]

You need to replace the flotation, just where is another matter.

Others will probably have better information.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hi OB.

Is the foam the white styrofoam as used in coolers? And crumbly and wet?

Dump it and use closed cell insulating foam sheets, either pink or blue depending who made it. It can be trimmed to fit under the deck and you will end up with almost indestructible flotation. The Big Box stores carry the sheets in 1 and 2 inch thicknesses.

 

[Woodonglass]

Need To??? Well there are No Laws or Regulations that say you have to!! But... For your safety, and the safety of your Passengers and your overall peace of mind...Yeah I think you NEED too!!!

 

[redneck joe]

What they said.



Welcome to the forum. Post up some pics and bpat details.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

What they said but especially what RN Joe said, we love to see old tin.

 

[Grandad]

Did you mean Starcraft Sprint? It's a question of whether you care if the boat will sink or not. Sometimes people don't care whether they recover an old outboard motor or not, whether they boat on dangerous waters or shallow protected places. I think you'll find that most members on this site think that leaving a boat without adequate flotation is irresponsible, if not for the current owner's use, perhaps for the future owner's family safety. If it's a question of economics or effort, consider how much it will cost to recover the boat and pay environmental damage claims for fuel spillage, etc. if it should sink. - Grandad

 

[redneck joe]

Assuming its a 16 footer or so, just a few bucks and if the floor is already out half the work is done.

 

[Vintage Rider]

Here's something that should help make your decision. Last night a small boat capsized in Lake St. Clair MI. It didn't completely sink and the younger guy was able to hang on long enough to be rescued. He's in critical condition due to hypothermia. The other, older, guy didn't make it. Had there been no floation there would have been no survivers.

 

[Ontario Boy]

thanks guys, this is my first boat so all this info is good, I have a bunch of pink Styrofoam hear so ill cut it to fit and replace all the white foam that has deteriorated, now what should I put in for carpet?

 

[redneck joe]

I didn't put carpert in and prob never will again. Forgot how nice it is not to have it, other than a bit of snap in on the Carver. Google nautolex.


I have threatened to get some astro turf - stuff really looks and feel real. Then my wife threatened me....

 

[Buckeyedude]

Here is whats under my decking in my boat. I had a bunch of pink and blue foam leftover from various jobsites. After that was used up, filled in the rest of the voids with pool noodles. Not tight though.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/IMAG0441.jpg

On another note, if the floor is junk, you might wanna take a look at the condition of the transom wood too!

 

[jbcurt00]

Buckeye, there have been numerous discussions, and pool noodles have been shown to be a really bad choice that dont float nearly the weight most think and do absorb water fairly easily. Then add the round shape w a hole thru the middle and by volume, other options offer better flotation.

Rigid insulation is a much better choice.

Otherwise, looks like a decent job of packing flotation foam below deck:

 

[Woodonglass]

" and do absorb water fairly easily."

John, where are you getting this information. The Pool Noodle foam, to the best of my knowledge, is closed cell foam, and therefore, will not readily absorb water. I'd be very interested in learning otherwise.

 

[jbcurt00]

Noodles are more sponge like. I've used 1 that when squeezed, it expelled water out of it. I've also held a waterlogged noodle. It was much heavier then a non-waterlogged noodle. Even left to float in a pool, where there isnt freeze thaw cycles, they get heavier, so soaking up water.

More then 1 Starcraft guy tested noodles. Most over estimate the dead weight a noodle will float (primary reason not to use them), when exposed to water, they soak it up just (reason 2 not to use them) and they arent an effiecent shape to maximize flotation value.

 

[GA_Boater]

For one thing, noodles deteriorate, As far as how much they can support, holding up a person in a pool is far different than supporting dead weight. Pool noodles are toys, not truly life saving devices.

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/owner...21#post5885821