Flotation

[Max Koone]

1965 Starcraft 16 ft Dolphin
In the process of redoing the interior, have it down to the bare hull. Will have to replace all the flotation as the boat sat direlect on the ground for quite a while. Have removed at least 3 mouse nests which had damaged the styrofoam. I have read in some of the forums about using empty drink bottles as flotation. Has anyone done this and checked it after several years? I am concerned that the bottles may crack and eventually take on water in the event of a flooding/sinking. Where would be a good place to get new styrofoam?

 

[dimock44]

Re: Flotation

Recently redid a fishing boat and in lew of finding styrofoam for the two bench seats. 13.5 aluminum boat ---maybe 125 lbs 15 hp motor maybe 60lbs total under 200 lbs. I put in 4 adult size life vests at 150 lbs each and 2 child size at 90 lbs ea. total 780 lbs. all were left over ( to old to use ) or garage sale finds. styrofoam is hard to find and expensive.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Flotation

Lots of people use the pink foam sheets from the home improvement centers as they are closed-cell foam and won't take on water. As for 2 litre bottles; in an enclosed space away from sunlight, you won't live long enough to see even one break down and develop a crack, you're talking centuries before the plastic degrades to that point.​

 

[Max Koone]

Re: Flotation

I am more concerned about mechanical vibration/rubbing type cracking than time/uv degradation.

 

[salty87]

Re: Flotation

i'm at the stage of digging out waterlogged foam from my hull. i'm trying to keep the stringer and support structure in tact so i know what was done at the factory. granted, the stringers are shot but its easy to tell at this point that the foam locks everything together. i won't find out but i'd have to imagine the deck and whole boat wouldn't be as sturdy without the foam.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Flotation

If your hull Relies on Foam to give it structure,........

I'd say it's Severely Underbuilt...........................

Plastic Soda Bottles are nearly Indestructible,........
As long as the Sun doesn't shine on them,...... They'll last Forever..............

 

[5150abf]

Re: Flotation

I have heard that the foam insulation in a can is the same as what they put in as OEM.
We used the industrial stuff at work for a while and it looked and even smelled the same and it will take to whatever shape it is put in.
I feel for you, I had to do that to my boat, what was originally probly 20 pounds of foam came out a little over 360 pounds( had it all in trash bags anyhow so i weighed it)
I used a big butcher knife to hack chuncks out, not any fun.
I trailer my boat so I just got 2 500GPH and one 1100GPH bilges from work,I wired an alarm to the 1100 and on of the 500s so if they kick on you hear this Godawful alarm and you know you are taking on water(You forgot to put the plug in!!!!), I figure I can make it to shore before it takes on enough water to sink,I hope.