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Author Topic:   Another foam test

NEVER SCARED posted 03-24-2003 03:42 PM ET (US)
It seems like the question about closed cell foam absorbing water has been settled, but I did my own test. With a knife, I cut a piece of the foam that seals in the aluminum tank below deck. The piece was about 2" long and 3/4" wide. My first observation of it was how rigid it was. I then placed it in a bowl and weighed it down with a rock. The air in my apartment is a constant 68 degrees, and I left the foam submerged for 3 weeks. Im certain the foam did not absorb any water. The foam floated exactly the same in the bowl as before. The foam weighed the same as before. And the foam was bone dry in less than 2 days. The boat is an 1987 Outrage 18. One other note, one side of the foam was exposed to the elements for 15 years. It had a brownish coating of muck. A cross section through the foam revealed that the dirty water did not penetrate more than 3 cells deep. Less than 1/64".
Never scared
doobee posted 03-24-2003 10:21 PM ET (US)
Whaler performed a wide variety of tests on the foam. In fact they routinely tested the foam on every hull they built. I'm not sure if they still do, but it makes sense, as certain tests can measure how stable the foam is.
The fuel tank foam is the same as the hull foam with one major difference. It is not encased when poured so it is less dense.
Seems like only yesterday I submitted a post stating that water is only a problem if it is injected into the foam via a failed drain tube, hull damage below the waterline, or an improper repair below the waterline. If you can avoid those conditions your hull will stay dry forever.
Tom W Clark posted 03-24-2003 11:32 PM ET (US)
NEVER SCARED,
Your experiment replicates on a tiny scale the one performed by Clark Roberts where he took a small piece of foam from one of his Whalers and sealed it in a jar of water for two years. His test chunk of foam absorbed no water. Read about his experiment here: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000076.html
Unfortunately, the evidence indicates that the foam in a Whaler can absorb water under some circumstances. While water pressure can certainly cause damage to a Whaler hull by forcing the separating of the skin form the foam and maybe help the water penetrate the foam, there are other factors involved that cause widespread water absorption into the foam. Water pressure from running Chain Saw Whaler around with bad drain tubes obviously did not saturate that little boat all the way to the gunwales.
I do feel confident that if you keep a Whaler in an apartment at a steady 68 degrees, you will never have a problem with wet foam.
doobee posted 03-25-2003 12:01 AM ET (US)
I agree with Tom that widespread water absorption is the result of a variety of factors. My contention is that the problem starts with something like a failed tube and then migrates from there. I could cut through any size piece of foam, in any direction, with nothing more than a garden hose with a decent nozzle.
I also agree that you're boat would stay dry if you kept it in your apartment. How about a Boston Whaler bath tub?
Gep posted 03-25-2003 07:19 AM ET (US)
Question: Is the foam that they seal in your gas tank the same foam that they used in the hulls?
Mike
Salmon Tub posted 03-25-2003 01:06 PM ET (US)
Never Scared, now try the following, do the same experiment inside a plastic bowl but this time, freeze it for a da or two, then thaw, then freeze, then thaw, and so on for say five times. Would be interesting to see what happens.
diveorfish posted 03-25-2003 01:42 PM ET (US)
Does the corrosive effect of saltwater have any impact on the foam?
doobee posted 03-25-2003 11:51 PM ET (US)
Gas tank foam is the same as hull foam, just not as dense.
Salt water should not chemically react with the foam, although experience suggests that anything can be altered by prolonged exposure to water.

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Author	Topic: Another foam test
NEVER SCARED	posted 03-24-2003 03:42 PM ET (US) It seems like the question about closed cell foam absorbing water has been settled, but I did my own test. With a knife, I cut a piece of the foam that seals in the aluminum tank below deck. The piece was about 2" long and 3/4" wide. My first observation of it was how rigid it was. I then placed it in a bowl and weighed it down with a rock. The air in my apartment is a constant 68 degrees, and I left the foam submerged for 3 weeks. Im certain the foam did not absorb any water. The foam floated exactly the same in the bowl as before. The foam weighed the same as before. And the foam was bone dry in less than 2 days. The boat is an 1987 Outrage 18. One other note, one side of the foam was exposed to the elements for 15 years. It had a brownish coating of muck. A cross section through the foam revealed that the dirty water did not penetrate more than 3 cells deep. Less than 1/64". Never scared
doobee	posted 03-24-2003 10:21 PM ET (US) Whaler performed a wide variety of tests on the foam. In fact they routinely tested the foam on every hull they built. I'm not sure if they still do, but it makes sense, as certain tests can measure how stable the foam is. The fuel tank foam is the same as the hull foam with one major difference. It is not encased when poured so it is less dense. Seems like only yesterday I submitted a post stating that water is only a problem if it is injected into the foam via a failed drain tube, hull damage below the waterline, or an improper repair below the waterline. If you can avoid those conditions your hull will stay dry forever.
Tom W Clark	posted 03-24-2003 11:32 PM ET (US) NEVER SCARED, Your experiment replicates on a tiny scale the one performed by Clark Roberts where he took a small piece of foam from one of his Whalers and sealed it in a jar of water for two years. His test chunk of foam absorbed no water. Read about his experiment here: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000076.html Unfortunately, the evidence indicates that the foam in a Whaler can absorb water under some circumstances. While water pressure can certainly cause damage to a Whaler hull by forcing the separating of the skin form the foam and maybe help the water penetrate the foam, there are other factors involved that cause widespread water absorption into the foam. Water pressure from running Chain Saw Whaler around with bad drain tubes obviously did not saturate that little boat all the way to the gunwales. I do feel confident that if you keep a Whaler in an apartment at a steady 68 degrees, you will never have a problem with wet foam.
doobee	posted 03-25-2003 12:01 AM ET (US) I agree with Tom that widespread water absorption is the result of a variety of factors. My contention is that the problem starts with something like a failed tube and then migrates from there. I could cut through any size piece of foam, in any direction, with nothing more than a garden hose with a decent nozzle. I also agree that you're boat would stay dry if you kept it in your apartment. How about a Boston Whaler bath tub?
Gep	posted 03-25-2003 07:19 AM ET (US) Question: Is the foam that they seal in your gas tank the same foam that they used in the hulls? Mike
Salmon Tub	posted 03-25-2003 01:06 PM ET (US) Never Scared, now try the following, do the same experiment inside a plastic bowl but this time, freeze it for a da or two, then thaw, then freeze, then thaw, and so on for say five times. Would be interesting to see what happens.
diveorfish	posted 03-25-2003 01:42 PM ET (US) Does the corrosive effect of saltwater have any impact on the foam?
doobee	posted 03-25-2003 11:51 PM ET (US) Gas tank foam is the same as hull foam, just not as dense. Salt water should not chemically react with the foam, although experience suggests that anything can be altered by prolonged exposure to water.