Marine Flotation
If you are a boat owner, you want to know about marine flotation. It is a federal law that boats 20 feet and shorter have level flotation material. The Code of Federal Regulations is very specific about testing for water absorption, resistance to fuel, fuel vapor, bilge cleaner, and oil. Versi-Foam® standard foams found in System I, System 15 and System 50 meet these requirements (U.S. Coast Guard Test Data). In addition, polyurethane foams are resistant to polyester resins used in the fiberglass process, making it the most popular flotation material for manufacture and repair of boats and other marine vessels.
Boat Foam
Versi-Foam polyurethane spray foam is credited for keeping the Top Fuel Drag Boat afloat when it was involved in a freak accident in their final round of drag boat racing in San Angelo, Texas. The race team uses Versi-Foam for flotation and added strength in their race boats. During the race the boat crossed over a rock peninsula, putting a four foot long hole in the side of their boat, but the boat didn’t sink because of the foam. “Every boat that we have campaigned in the last five years has used Versi-Foam in the construction of our racing hulls. Its unique properties provide rigidity to our hull. In the event of an accident, it provides flotation to the hull even though it’s often broken into several pieces.” said Lou Osman from Aero Engineering. “Running at 258 mph requires that we use the best products possible and RHH’s Versi-Foam is without a doubt the best foam we have found for this application. Most of our competitors have also switched to your product, which is a testimonial to its value because we are always looking for an edge on the other teams. When we all end up with the same product, you know that’s as good as it gets.”
Versi-Foam® is also used in the Dobbertin HydroCar which drives on land and water. The foam is used for flotation and added strength. According to creator Rick Dobbertin, “When we first tested the HydroCar, it was a little nose-heavy, so I added a removable fiberglass nose section to get a bit more buoyancy. Versi-Foam was the perfect combination of flotation and strength for the project. I simply sprayed the foam into the nose, waited an hour and trimmed the excess to fit. It’s just about as rigid as any other part on the car and we had no problems with shrinkage or expansion whatsoever. I wish everything on the car had been that easy.” He continued, “This is the ultimate in closed cell marine flotation foam. The system comes complete with hoses, a gun and spare nozzles. The finished foam weighs only two pounds per cubic foot and is very easy to use. The foam expands to its final size and cures in less than a minute which lets the user see the results almost instantly.”
Replacing Marine Flotation Foam
The recommended method to replace marine flotation foam in a hull cavity is to remove the deck and spray the foam between the stringers. When cured, level the surface of the foam and replace the deck. Versi-Foam is also used for encapsulation of the gas tank (for security and rigidity) and to insulate ice chests, coolers, bait boxes and fish holds.
Contact us if you would like to discuss your specific marine flotation application.
Read more about the versatility of Versi-Foam and its many applications for individuals and businesses: