Marine insulation?

[Bigjim]

I am remodeling the interior of my 42 year old boat. The old vinyl liner had foam insulation under it. The insulation in most place has dissolved over the years.

So, I'm looking for a product that I can use to replace it without breaking the bank.

Some use neoprene. I bought some last year to put behind my new paneling. It seems OK but neoprene can be very expensive.

Some people are using the closed-cell floor tiles often used in gyms. These tiles feature teeth on the edges that fit into the next tile. These can be purchased much cheaper than neoprene and are waterproof.

Does anyone have experience with these products or others that they can recommend? Also, it's important to hear how these products perform? How easy they are to install and what methods do you recommend for installation?

[ranger58sb]

We used a lightweight Berber carpet.

-Chris

[tkeithlu]

Hmmm. I wish I had foam insulated my boat. It would help a bunch with temperature control.

Consider a material that is closed cell, so it won't hold water, and will shape to the curved surfaces of the boat. Neoprene does come to mind, but Neoprene is both expensive and heavy.

The foam used to make PDFs comes to mind - if you examine a throw cushion, you'll find that it is a cloth bag around a stack of sheets of closed cell foam.

How thick is the space you are insulating?

Just to get you thinking along a new line, consider the packing foam, and the bubble wrap, from these pages in the McMaster-Carr catalog. Some even comes with adhesive.

https://www.mcmaster.com/bubble-wrap

https://www.mcmaster.com/foam-wrap

I think that if I was going back and insulating my boat, I would either have the whole thing foam insulated, as in house insulation, or I would line it with something like these foams/wraps.

Good luck with it all.

[Chotu]

Not sure about how large an area or budget, but closed cell spray foam?

[RGN]

Cork! Can be has in tiles or sheets in many thicknesses. Cork does not support combustion, is mold and for resistant, floats, and is a very good insulator. No "plastic smell" and can be glued on with a good contact adhesive.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by RGN

Cork! Can be has in tiles or sheets in many thicknesses. Cork does not support combustion, is mold and for resistant, floats, and is a very good insulator. No "plastic smell" and can be glued on with a good contact adhesive.

Oooh !! I like that one. It’s usually sustainability grown and farmed too.

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Not sure about how large an area or budget, but closed cell spray foam?

I would prefer not to spray anything. I'm really leaning toward sheets of pre-made material that can be glued. My final prep will be to cover it with PVC paneling. So, I'm gluing furring strips to the hull every 20-30 inches to affix the PVC.

I don't have to buy all of the material at once. But I'd like to finish one cabin entirely if possible.

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by RGN

Cork! Can be has in tiles or sheets in many thicknesses. Cork does not support combustion, is mold and for resistant, floats, and is a very good insulator. No "plastic smell" and can be glued on with a good contact adhesive.

I really like that idea. Does anyone know the longevity of cork? Do you suggest any prep or treatment to the exposed surface, such as coating it with epoxy?

[Bigjim]

Dan and Kika on Sailing Uma have used these tiles as insulation. In some places on the boat they leave them exposed. Waterproof and easily glued to fiberglass. The nice thing they come in various colors.

Has anyone else used them?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTCORKU...ing=UTF8&psc=1

[Bigjim]

I did a quick search and found both cork sheets and foam carpet tiles.

Cork costs around $1.60 per square foot.
Foam tiles cost around $1.30 square foot.

Now, the most important question is: Which one provides the better R value?

[Cheechako]

Anything helps. Those grey tiles are also available as a roll instead of tile.
I used the white packing foam sheet on a boat years ago. It's like Vinyl or nylon? Named EPE I guess. Also comes in Blue. Flexible. I put 1/2" in everywhere I could behind liners. It doesn't break down.

If you have places for thick stuff that rigid construction foam in Blue or Pink would work. But it has to be a flat surface.
Pay attention regarding glues, some of that stuff melts from glue.

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Anything helps. Those grey tiles are also available as a roll instead of tile.
I used the white packing foam sheet on a boat years ago. It's like Vinyl or nylon? Named EPE I guess. Also comes in Blue. Flexible. I put 1/2" in everywhere I could behind liners. It doesn't break down.

If you have places for thick stuff that rigid construction foam in Blue or Pink would work. But it has to be a flat surface.
Pay attention regarding glues, some of that stuff melts from glue.

What glue did you use for that packing foam?