Floatation advice for 14ft aluminum boat.

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  • May 20, 2015 at 6:01 pm #1553
    cajuncook1
    Participant


      Hey guys, looking to make a modification to my 1982 14ft Monarch Modified Vhull boat. I want to remove the floatation foam out of the middle bench and use it for storage, but I don’t want to sacrifice safety either. My aluminum boat is factory still.

      – Is there a way to add floatation material to other areas of the boat to maintain safety? I am also going to add flooring to the bottom of the boat on top of the support ribs.

      Thanks in advance for your advice and time.

      David T.

      May 20, 2015 at 6:25 pm #16535
      chinewalker
      Participant

        US Member

        Sure, add some foam blocks between the ribs when you lay the floor down. Leave room to allow for drainage at all rib weepholes. Only downside is that by moving the flotation lower, if the boat were to swamp, it may want to turn turtle…

        May 21, 2015 at 12:05 am #16551
        cajuncook1
        Participant

          Thanks Chinewalker for information. When you say, want turtle, do you mean flip over?

          May 21, 2015 at 1:53 am #16560
          david-bartlett
          Participant

            Yes! Turn turtle = upside down.

            May 21, 2015 at 2:12 am #16562
            Mumbles
            Participant

              If you go with foam make sure to use the closed cell stuff and not the open cell foam. Open cell will absorb water like a sponge.

              May 21, 2015 at 12:55 pm #16594
              pappy
              Participant

                US Member

                And eventually the foam will start to compress and shred with each little bump the boat hits, leaving little pieces of foam to travel back and plug up your drain hole.

                May 21, 2015 at 1:39 pm #16598
                cajuncook1
                Participant

                  Pappy are you referring to open cell or closed cell foam??

                  May 21, 2015 at 5:06 pm #16607
                  Steve A W
                  Participant

                    US Member - 2 Years

                    I think Pappy is referring to the white bead board.
                    We’ve got a ’70s something Starcraft that has the bead board gone bad.
                    It is due for new floor boards, We’ll eventually get it all done.
                    Use the blue or pink insulation boards from the big box stores.
                    Good Luck with Your boat.

                    Steve A W

                    Member of the MOB chapter.
                    I live in Northwest Indiana

                    May 21, 2015 at 9:44 pm #16623
                    cajuncook1
                    Participant

                      Thanks Steve, that makes sense now.

                      Cheers

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