chall

I'm building a sailboat kit that calls for "2-part buoyancy foam" and specifically says NOT to use the foam that comes in an aerosol can.

What is "2 part buoyancy foam", and where can I get it? I've looked at the Tower Hobbies website, my local hobby shops, the hardware store, and a boating supply place. The only place that has heard of it is the boat (full size) supply store, and they sold it by the gallon for $60 or so (they were also out of stock).

Can someone help me out? What's wrong with the aerosol foam I see *everywhere*?

Thanks,

C. Hall

pompebled

Hi Charles,

The foam you see "everywhere" is not suitable for our boathulls, as it tends to expand uncontrollable, you may end up with a hull that looks like a sausage, as too much will blow up your hull, mostly beyond repair, or you'll have a small dot in one place, that refuses to expand and becomes as hard as a rock.

The 2-part foam is designed to expand more or less controlled, so you won't wreck your boat.

Depending on the space you have left in the boat, pieces of styrofoam, cut to fit, will work as well, as long as you fill every available corner, not occupied by the working innards.

On my 1M Voyager I have omitted buoyancy altogether, but have a hatch that's really waterproof.

In my experience, when a sailboat springs a leak, or gets run over, the relative huge ballast makes buoyancy rather fuitile..., it's gone within seconds.

Regards, Jan.

schmism

well yes and no.

technically the A/B foam is a fairly rapid expanding foam. and is not generally available in small amounts. (the comapny i work for uses it and gets it in 55 gallon drums)

there are 2 types of insulation foam you can buy in a can. Hi-expansion, which expands quickly, and low expansion which expands slowly. the can will say.

The low expansion/slow stuff should work fine. you can always squirt some on something and watch how it does.

andy1499

I don't use foam at all. What I do (and many in my local RC sailing club do) is use an airbag--the type sent with shipments/packages usually made of clear plastic. Depending on the size of the boat, you can take one and stuff it inside the hull forward of the keel trunk. Just be careful if you plan to drill in any holes in the deck not to punch a hole in the airbag below!

Andy

chall

Thanks for all the advice!

By the way, I finally found the 2-part foam in small quantities. It's made by Northeast Hobbies as "Liquid Foam". Tower Hobbies does carry it for about $12.

DONS BOAT WORKS

My Feedback: (3)

I have used ping pong balls in a zip lock bag, works good and cheap.
You can use velcro to hold it in place.
Don