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Herschel wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 1:40 pmI discovered that Styrofoam is no longer a USCG approved floatation for marine use.

Interesting. Perhaps because it can become saturated. My hot tub cover (styrofoam) got waterlogged and was super heavy and only 4 years old. I guess the stuff will eventually absorb moisture. Sounds like that's what happened to your boat.

So what are we to use instead?

Our boats should not be an issue as the foam is kept dry. I'm convinced Roger managed to recycle all the Styrofoam in the shop and jammed it everywhere. Hey, it works, why not?

Thank you guys for your continued interest in my little "warm up" project with my O'Day dinghy. I was so pumped up, i hit the foam again today with saw and hot knife. Got about half of it removed. slowly learning the techniques that are most efficient.





Just to make it more relevant for our Mac's, here are the pics of my Mac decks that I think I need to paint. You can see the the Gelcoat is thin. A dark area is showing through in places. I know that using a pressure cleaner at times, however carefully, has contributed to the gelcoat issue, but it is just so hot down here, and staying in the slip year round mildew/mold will develop. At age 80, I just can't avoid using it. I just got caught up in "mission creep" while setting out to repaint the dinghy's gunwhales.




Thanks again for the encouragement.

Hi Herschel!

I just got caught up in "mission creep" while setting out to repaint the dinghy's gunwhales.

It’s a nice club you’ve joined Herschel!
membership is free but costly and the club has been thriving for awhile now and you meet the nicest people at the impromptu meetings which are generally held in hardware store, marinas, boat supplies stores and multiple forums online!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Status report on floatation foam removal from Dinghy: I have 99% removed. I managed to break my hot knife in the process, but it was useful while it lasted. I bent it so much that the leads bent and connected shorting it out. Finished the job with the pruning saw and chesils. Just have some corners to clean out and to sand down the whole area. Someone mentioned the idea of placing a protective wrap/cover against the hull before pouring the new foam mixture in to facilitate the removal of the new stuff down the line when it, too, needs to be replaced. Does anybody have a suggestion of what to use? The foam mixture generates heat as it expands. So, I am thinking a simple thick plastic garbage bag would not survive that process and would itself trap moisture should my new sealant begin to leak going forward at some point. I was wondering about gardening cloth. It lets moisture escape but is fairly rugged. Open to suggestions. The PVC pipe runs from a drain hole in the "cockpit" through the transom so water can be drained while washing the boat or upon trailering the boat with rain/bilge water to get rid of. It has a bronze screw-in plug for sailing/motoring. It needs to be carefully sealed around it's through-hull/cockpit openings, too. I'm adding an old pic of the boat rigged for sailing. these work pics are so grimy; I want to show how nice she looks when "shipshape!"

Hi Herschel!

I’ve used polypropylene sheeting, like the mid/heavy drop cloth type.
It worked well for fiberglass work area protection too as ‘generally’ the fiberglass doesn’t stick to it ….
Has stood up to the heat generally well.
I’ve gotten it at Home Depot, Lowe’s and paint stores.

Hope this helps…

Pretty boat she was, gorgeous she will be!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

OverEasy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 12:53 am Hi Herschel!

I’ve used polypropylene sheeting, like the mid/heavy drop cloth type.
It worked well for fiberglass work area protection too as ‘generally’ the fiberglass doesn’t stick to it ….
Has stood up to the heat generally well.
I’ve gotten it at Home Depot, Lowe’s and paint stores.

Hope this helps…

Pretty boat she was, gorgeous she will be!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Ordered. Thanks. Got a wedding for a grandson this weekend, so give me a couple of weeks for follow-up. Just so happens, he's the same kid standing at the bow of Laddie II in the pic. He's 28 now! Cheers, Herschel

Hi Herschel!

How goes it?
The temperatures up here in South Carolina have been tough as of late in the 90s with equal measure of humidity!
I can only image what you’re contending with where you are at!

I copied your idea of the pop up shade for working on the trailer refurbishment.
It makes a difference!

If I was to be doing this on a regular basis I’d need one of those big directional swamp coolers!


How is it working with paint & fiberglass with the temperature and humidity you are experiencing?

Hope all goes well for you!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

OverEasy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 8:28 am Hi Herschel!

How goes it?
The temperatures up here in South Carolina have been tough as of late in the 90s with equal measure of humidity!
I can only image what you’re contending with where you are at!

I copied your idea of the pop up shade for working on the trailer refurbishment.
It makes a difference!

If I was to be doing this on a regular basis I’d need one of those big directional swamp coolers!


How is it working with paint & fiberglass with the temperature and humidity you are experiencing?

Hope all goes well for you!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

We are inching forward. Got the grandson hitched very nicely last weekend in Seattle. Beautiful couple. They will do well. BUT...we contracted COVID apparently at the reception, and upon returning to Orlando early Monday morning came down with symptoms a day later. Our PCP got us on the meds to help, but it is still a formidable experience. As for the dinghy foam extraction, that is complete. I have all the materials I think I need for the replacement foam and a plan to implement...as soon as I get some energy. The more I approach even this simple "practice project" I am becoming more aware that I am doing these projects mostly for the next families that will enjoy these boats. Maybe my own sons or grandchildren; maybe someone else. Yes, I'll have some fun with them a few more years, but I want to do a good job so that those families will be well served. And safe, and have nice boats to be proud of and want to be maintained well. Sometime this summer i need to trailer my Mac and have the yearly/100-hour service done on my 2013 50 Yamaha. It only has 364 hours. That's a two-day evolution for me and the Admiral; i think my son will help this time, though. Should go easier. And Good Luck with your project; you will likely be ahead of me on that. Pass on lessons learned. I don't see getting to the Mac until October/November time frame.

Hi Herschel!

Congratulations!
Glad you got to see your grandson hitched! That’s a nice moment in time!

As far as the ‘next gen’ I figure your gonna get more than just a few years… more like many,

In life everything changes in a heartbeat… that goes both ways!
I know that those who think they’re in the catbird seat often aren’t and are rudely awakened… especially when no one cares once they get their comeuppance…
I know that those down on their luck and catch a fortunate break find that they have actually long had a robust cheering section who genuinely are happy for them….
One never knows. Doing the right hing is always its own rewards!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Herschel,
I just saw this and I'm so sorry to hear you are sick. I'm in Windermere for another day or two. Is there anything I can do for you?
Bill

OK, one grandson married (in Seattle), COVID survived, celebrated granddaughter's 15th birthday in Peachtree City (GA), and rested up from drive home to Orlando. Soon I'll be pouring this foam stuff and seeing what happens. Will follow forum advice and pour in the tarp-lined cavity and quickly press the rear seat down in place with two 15-lb weights to force the foam to conform to the shape of the seat cavity. I don't want to waist any foam rising above the seat level and have to cut it off. That would seem to compromise the flotation down the road by making the foam more vulnerable to water absorption. I'll ask the admiral to document my actions with photos so stay tuned.

Hi Herschel!

Glad you’re mended and congratulations on the family events!

If I might make a suggestion….
When pouring the floatation foam do it in smaller increments rather than as one large pour.
Work your way up in smaller steps as it were. Especially in this warm weather. (The stuff can get rather ‘excited’ in bulk and when hot)

It can also generate a lot of lift expansion force when overly confined, so a couple smaller pours generally makes for a better job.
It will allow you to best judge what’s gonna work for your situation and environment.

The smaller pours will also make surface layers between the pours which effectively ‘isolates’ each batch from any potential water intrusion if that is a concern.

Hope you’re doing ok with the heat lately.
Here in our area of Soth Carolina it’s been like being inside a lobster steamer!
Out on the boat yesterday for several hours. Air temp was over 95F, water temp was 91F, the radio said the local ‘real feel’ was 110F.



Hope all goes well!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Several small pours. Makes sense. I'll go that route. Still going to jam on that seat just in case it grows up too high.

OverEasy wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 11:00 am Hi Herschel!

Glad you’re mended and congratulations on the family events!

If I might make a suggestion….
When pouring the floatation foam do it in smaller increments rather than as one large pour.
Work your way up in smaller steps as it were. Especially in this warm weather. (The stuff can get rather ‘excited’ in bulk and when hot)
It can also generate a lot of lift expansion force when overly confined, so a couple smaller pours generally makes for a better job.
It will allow you to best judge what’s gonna work for your situation and environment.
The smaller pours will also make surface layers between the pours which effectively ‘isolates’ each batch from any potential water intrusion if that is a concern.
Hope you’re doing ok with the heat lately.
Here in our area of Soth Carolina it’s been like being inside a lobster steamer!
Out on the boat yesterday for several hours. Air temp was over 95F, water temp was 91F, the radio said the local ‘real feel’ was 110F.

Hope all goes well!
Best Regards,
Over Easy

OK, folks, it's "fish or cut bait" time with this project. Here is a pic of the complete prep for the void under my stern seat. This week I caulk where needed, spray some rubber sealant just to cover my bases, lay out the fabric, pour several small flotation foam applications, seal fabric with some RV Enduro tape, caulk the base support areas for the rear seat, screw down stern seat, and caulk the seams and screw holes of the seat. Then it is on to painting the gunwhales and planning to get this puppy wet.

Hi Herschel!
Wow! What a great clean up job!
That’s perfect!

Hope all goes well with the step pours and such.
You’ve put in a lot of effort!
The goal is within sight!

Best Regards,
Over Easy