ProBoat Dont Float

[Darin Jordan]

If I may... I've used the 2-Part foam in a lot of boats, but there are cautions you need to be aware of...

In the heat, the foam tends contract. In my "IM31 Race Prep" thread(s), I think I advocated it's use up along the sides of the hull in the nose, and also on top of the factory installed foam block to help prevent the deck from compressing down and popping the hatch in a hard flip.

While I still think this is a good idea, you need to be aware of the amount of it you are installing. I've had it actually "suck-in" the sides of the front of one of my IM31's when I took it from Washington State to California and back... I don't know if it was the heat, or the altitude over the passes, but something caused it to contract, which sucked down the deck and the sides, making them concave surfaces.

Also, if you cut the surface of the 2-Part once it's cured, it WILL absorb water.

I'm not saying don't use it, just uses it cautiously.

[tlandauer]

That has certainly happened to my DF 26. It is quite heat sensitive and I notice the deck gets sucked in every time when it is under the sun. I worry about the hull but there is nothing I can do at this point. I don't know the brand/origin of the 2-part form as I dd not build the boat.
The 2-part form from Kintec seems to fair better, I have only used it in my MG and it doesn't do that.
I am not trying to contradict what Darin is saying but rather would like an answer for myself from people who have used these extensively: are there differences between different makers? And if so, which ones are to avoid?

[siberianhusky]

I've had to do some minor repairs on two boat that were foamed. I hate that crap with a passion!
Pool noodles with a couple blobs of Gorilla Glue to hold it in place is all I will use after those two horrible experiences.
One boat it must have absorbed a ton of water, had to do a major reset of the CG after it was all removed. Wondered for a while as I couldn't understand with the motor as close to the stern as possible why I had to have the batteries that far back as well. Is only a 29" boat.

[Diegoboy]

I too learned that lesson the hard way and it stinks no matter how you slice it. But with the boat being modified by adding adjustable trim tabs and turn fins, You have to consider how much more weight that added to the transom. This may have changed the "weight to buoyancy" ratio.