What Is Marine Foam Used For?

Marine foam is used to improve the buoyancy of marine vessels. Simply put, it helps protect vessels from sinking in the case of hull breeches. Marine foam can also be used as a more cost-effective alternative to re-plating or patching thin metal on flotation devices, and it also helps reduce vibrations and dampens the sound from motors.   

How Much Flotation Foam Is Required in a Boat?

If your boat is under 20 feet long, flotation foam is federally required. The United States Coast Guard sets the standard of how much foam must be installed and in 2018 this standard was updated to align with newer engines. Check out the Code of Federal Regulations for an up to date engine weight table, and read more about the safety standard on the Federal Register.

Is Marine Foam Fire Resistant?

Not all marine foams are fire resistant, however, Empire Foam’s formulations are all flame resistant and self extinguishing. Check out our Anti-Fire Marine Foam Demo Video for a demonstration.  

What Type of Foam Is Used in Boats?

People and boat building companies have used a number of different kinds of foams in boats. What is the best foam for a particular section of the boat, or for a particular purpose?  Those questions will help us zero in on the best answer. 

-Satisfy Coast Guard Requirement

​​If the purpose of the foam is simply to satisfy a Coast Guard requirement for a certain amount of foam flotation, then one might choose any number of brands of foam that have been Coast Guard Approved.  BUT if the location for the foam is below the water-line, for a high-quality, very long-term solution, you should choose a foam that substantially exceeds the basic Coast Guard standard.  For as anyone who has worked around boats for long will tell you, very often when digging into sections of boats below the waterline that any “flotation” foam they find, is often very waterlogged.  Thereby adding very many pounds of weight to the boat, instead of light, positive flotation (the opposite of its intended purpose). 

-Location Is Above Waterline & Used for Insulation

 If the location is above the waterline and the purpose is to supply insulation to the craft, then regular home spec., closed cell (2 lb./cu.ft), spray foam insulation will be fully adequate.