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timeintheboat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote timeintheboat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: expanding foam
    Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 8:35am
Has anyone any experience of using expanding foam to provide extra support under a deck in an inaccessible area inside a hull?

I can see in with a digital camera but it is outside arms reach. The plan was to drill a small hole, inject the foam, take some more pics to check and then seal and gelcoat the hole.

It should be away from water. I'm told there is some slow expanding foam which would be ideal.

Cheers
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JimC View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 8:55am
The Golden rule is don't. The stuff soaks up water like crazy, costs weight, on a wood boat promotes rot and I can't see it providing much support.

Whats the problem in detail? Maybe we can come up with a better option.

Edited by JimC
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timeintheboat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote timeintheboat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 11:23am
Here's a pic.



The support seen here supports (or rather doesn't) the cockpit floor. It was brought to my attention by some creaking when moving about or putting weight on the floor.

It is inaccessible from the hatch (unless I make some sort of tool - I haven't tried) and so the the only way in is through the cockpit floor (directly above)  - which I want to do as little to as possible. Originally I think there was some foam there (a fragment is on the floor (visible) and there are other bits in the boat).

To locate it I was going to light up the inside of the boat and hopefully it would show up.

Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender 541 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 11:42am

The other thing with expanding foam - quite apart from the absorbing water issue - is that it expands. 

Sounds obvious, but this stuff can create quite a pressure - enough to pop your decks apart.

Oh and it gets hot - very very hot in enclosed spaces



Edited by Contender 541
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JimC View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 12:13pm
What's the boat? And I wonder if the manufacturer can come up with suggestions or advice.

I presume the deck moulding is upwards in the photo. It looks to me as if its the conventional kind of construction where some kind of adhesive is placed on the frames and the deck placed on top and then the deck is pressed down onto it by some means. The actual area of the joint doesn't look as large as might be ideal, so I would be looking to improve the joint, not just glue it back again the same way.

It *might* be possible, with much juggling with adhesive on a long wire, to get enough glop on the broken joint that you could then weigh it down and make the join again, but I reckon it will let go again before too long.

I fear you are going to have to go through the floor to work on this one for best results. If its a foam sandwich deck then it isn't as big a deal as you might fear, provided you have something to disguise the repair. Progrip is perfect!

Jim C

Edited by JimC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jamie600 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 12:14pm

 

I'd mix some epoxy and microfibres so it's really thick (won't drip) then put some on a stick and try to smear it on the top of that support. Then weight the deck down so it makes contact and leave to dry.



Edited by Jamie600
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timeintheboat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote timeintheboat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 1:00pm
Thanks for the advice so far - yes I am in contact with the builder - but that won't be until next week. I think I am getting the idea that foam is not the way to go.

It's fibreglass and gelcoat construction

I'd prefer not go through the floor so I might have a trial go with with the gloop. 1st thing to do though is see if I can reach the damn thing with some sort of home made tool. If I can get there I can get stuff there.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 1:43pm
Originally posted by timeintheboat

reach the damn thing with some sort of home made tool

Another wire coathanger bites the dust:-)
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Lukepiewalker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 8:17pm
It looks like the sort of job worth doing properly, but as I am singularly cack handed at almost any meaningful repair I can't offer too much advice.
Would it be worth making a fibreglass plate to glue on top of the 'post', which can then offer a larger gluing surface for the deck?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rockhopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 09 at 9:05pm
try using fibre glass on a pole or stick you can have the glass already to stick once its in the hole i know if i have to glass anything up in the air i pre glass it before lifting it off then put it up and on..
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