Course How To

Pontoon Houseboat Floatation - Use Expanding Foam or Styrofoam?

by Chad
(Hurley, MS)

Pontoon Houseboat Floatation - Use Foam or Styrofoam?

Pontoon Houseboat Floatation - Use Foam or Styrofoam?

When it comes to pontoon houseboat floatation, do I use expanding foam, or styrofoam?

Where do we find some styro-foam or expandable foam?

I have started building my boat but can't seem to find any styrofoam. I am looking for 4x4 x16 blocks to get going. Any ideas where I can find a good deal on them?

Thanks for any info, Chad.



Advertise Houseboat Business Advertising
You can advertise here for pennies a day!
Are you a boating related business and want to
increase sales and profits with targeted traffic?
Act now to get our 1/2 price sale, limited offer




Reply - Answer
Well Chad, glad to hear about your decision to use some form of floatation method in your pontoons.

As to where you could find some styrofoam, I would look at the home building or at the industrial markets. You could google styrofoam, and see what it brings.

Now as to whether to use expanding foam, or to purchase lengths of styrofoam to insert, that is the question. Which is better, and which is more cost effective?

When it comes to both methods, should you use "open cell or closed cell construction foam", as I know some will retain water, and others will inhibit water retention.

Possibly someone in the community who some some technical experience in this topic will be able to confirm some of those details.



Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their experiences with houseboat floatation foam. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.


Thanks again for sharing, IAN from all-about-houseboats


Free Bonus Offer

To show our deep appreciation to all of our readers and visitors, here is the link to our free houseboat magazine, the INSIDER. Go ahead click the book and sign-up, it's free and filled with great articles, tips, information and website updates.

free Houseboat Magazine - The Houseboat Insider


Comments for Pontoon Houseboat Floatation - Use Expanding Foam or Styrofoam?

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
2 part sticks
by: Claude

Remember that the 2 part expanding foam sticks to the sides, so is very very difficult to remove, if it should get waterlogged or you have to weld the pontoons. Styrofoam blocks mean you have to have hatches to insert them. Best pontoons in my opiniom should have at least 5 sealed and pressure tested compartments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Open or closed cell foam? Which is better?
by: Mike A

Open cell spray foam will absorb water and sink your boat. Bad, bad, bad.

Closed cell is what you use and its more expensive but, it floats, not sinks like open cell.

Closed cell foam traps tiny air bubbles. Open cell lets water into and between the cells.

Spray insulation foam is usually closed cell. Not always though. Always confirm before spraying

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Boat builder
by: Anonymous

Coast Guard recommends 2lb 2 part mixed polyurethane foam boxed in by fiberglass, aluminum or other Watergate structural product, otherwise any foam will eventually fall apart and your structure will take on water or sink.

I also recommend at least 2 bridge pumps, 1500 gph, other 1500 or larger for emergency, from sudden water intrusion.

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
My experience with styrofoam
by: Bruce

I built a houseboat with two styrofoam pontoons 25 years ago, which were partially clad in marine ply. Although I parted ways with it 10 years ago it is still floating and used as a residence, although the deck and the cabin have been replaced.

It is 7.2 x 3.6 meters, with the pontoons 600mm x 600mm x 7.2 meters. Styrofoam is great to use, but you should keep it waterproof as it does absorb water. That varies on the density of foam you use too.

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Hope this helps someone
by: Anonymous

There is a foam company in Monticello AR that supplies the two manufacturers there. Sorry, but I can't remember the name!

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Foam
by: Greg

Depends on where you are located, I'm in California and the work I do is build cold storage cooler boxes. Or it is called insulated metal panels. Try looking that up, hope this helps you. Because I just made a 4'x8' one man pontoon with this material.

Good luck, Greg

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Plans for Building a Houseboat..


Continue Reading Our Popular Pages

Our collection of houseboat ebooks

Ebook Boats Collection on Houseboat Books

We just love houseboats, do you?
Join our monthly HB Insider for free



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.