Super Jet Best polystyrene to re-foam with?

227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
I have a beater hull I'm working on that's going to need a re-foam. I plan on going with a closed cell polystyrene. Ideally I want to use a foam identicle to what Yamaha uses for the nose foam, as this foam is not only waterproof, it is also petroleum resistant. I'm thinking Petroleum resistant foam is important because no matter how well the bulkhead is sealed, spilled gas in the hull will eventually make it past the bulkhead and melt a polystyrene that's not petroleum resistant. Does anyone out there know the name of, or the type of foam Yamaha uses for the nose foam? I believe Kawasaki uses the same type of foam in the SXR hull. I have sent samples to local foam companies which have not had any luck locating a similar product. I was hoping maybe someone on the board has dealt with this before and can steer me in the right direction. Thx in advance
 
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58vwragtop

58vwragtop

Braap Certified
Location
Blue Springs, MO
Ping Pong balls!!! Thats what I put in mine with the 2 part expandable stuff from US Composites in the foot hold area. It works great, I put drain plugs in to drain it if it gets water in it.
 
227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
Ping pong balls mixed with two part foam would be a good option, but the reason I started this thread was to see if any one knows of a source for PETROLEUM RESISTANT Polystyrene . Regular Polystyrene for construction like whats available at Home Depot or Lowes is fairly common but it melts when fuel is spilled on it.
 
McDog

McDog

Other Administrator
Staff member
Location
South Florida
Are you planning to put gasoline inside your sealed up tray? Water is the only thing that will get in it if you have any sort of leak. Now if you are planning to use that area as a built in gas tank that is another story.
 
eastbay

eastbay

Location
Bay Area
i want the same stuff, i dont have a sealed bulk head so i know gas will get on it.. and yes the SXR has the same foam in the tray!
 
Kny21

Kny21

Location
Delaware
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is what you want... think stock nose foam.

XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) which is the blue or pink crap that HD or Lowes sell won't hold up to gas or extended water saturation.

I've seen HD around coastal areas around here actually sell EPS sheets, not sure about Lowes but would suspect they do.
 
Vumad

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
McDog said:
Are you planning to put gasoline inside your sealed up tray? Water is the only thing that will get in it if you have any sort of leak. Now if you are planning to use that area as a built in gas tank that is another story.
Click to expand...

You have to have foam in your tank. The tray is a perfect place for fuel. Add a filler and an updraft, and you are good to go.

Correct??
 
227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
Jump On It said:
227 what about getting used couch foam ? sj762 filled his hull with pieces of it and many shops have couch hulls waiting for the trip to the dump...
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Good call Bro, I might have to go this route, if I can't find any fuel resistant foam available to purchase in a sheet somewhere. BTW doesn't only Kawi fill their hulls with the Fuel resistant foam?

Re-foaming is such a nasty job, I'm dreading it and I only want to do it once. I figure if I put forth the effort, I want to use materials that are going to last. There's really only two things that could possibly touch this foam, Water and Gas. All Polystyrenes are waterproof but Petroleum resistant is another story. Spilt gas getting past the bulkhead to the foam may be unlikely, but I don't want to chance it, I don't believe there is such a thing as a sealed bulkhead, over time everything fails. Since I'm going to do this, and I already know they make a Petroleum resistant foam (I have a big chunk of it right in my nose), Why not use it? I just have to find out where to buy it, or go the "Raid a used couch hull" method
 
Freakrider

Freakrider

X247
Location
Tampa Bay area
227 said:
Good call Bro, I might have to go this route, if I can't find any fuel resistant foam available to purchase in a sheet somewhere. BTW doesn't only Kawi fill their hulls with the Fuel resistant foam?

Re-foaming is such a nasty job, I'm dreading it and I only want to do it once. I figure if I put forth the effort, I want to use materials that are going to last. There's really only two things that could possibly touch this foam, Water and Gas. All Polystyrenes are waterproof but Petroleum resistant is another story. Spilt gas getting past the bulkhead to the foam may be unlikely, but I don't want to chance it, I don't believe there is such a thing as a sealed bulkhead, over time everything fails. Since I'm going to do this, and I already know they make a Petroleum resistant foam (I have a big chunk of it right in my nose), Why not use it? I just have to find out where to buy it, or go the "Raid a used couch hull" method
Click to expand...

When I refoamed, used a wire wheel cup on a die grinder and a pressure washer to blast away some outline area...nasty job,there must be a better way too...what method are you going to use to remove the foam, just wondering ? I put in two drain plugs, one to drain the tray hull...the other to drain the engine compartment with a hose running across tray hull to the bulkhead which can work as a mini scupper if your bilge pump/switch goes out.
 
227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
Jump On It said:
...what method are you going to use to remove the foam, just wondering ?
Click to expand...

Don't know, I've never done it before. I'm just going to wing it! haha! I think I'll start by using my multi tool to take it out in chucks and then I'll resort to grinding to get out the small stuff. Any better suggestions?
 
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