Polyurethane foam is often referred to as flotation foam because of its remarkable characteristics. It is supremely popular with marine enthusiasts everywhere because it can add considerable buoyancy to any vessel without adding to weight. In addition, it can significantly add to the strength of a hull if it is applied book.

Flotation foam is used extensively in boats of all shapes and sizes, right from canoes and kayaks up to the much larger sailing vessels. You might be surprised that anyone would want to add more buoyancy to a canoe when they're pretty much unsinkable anyway. The experts say that extra flotation foam will make less room for water. A swamped canoe can weigh nearly a ton, so if it hits rocks it will be a nasty business.

Waterproof Your Foam

Just one of the reasons that spray foam is so popular in the marine field is because it resists absorbing water. However, it should be noted that it's not completely waterproof unless it's sealed with a waterproof substance. Foam used in canoes is often covered in vinyl. Any water absorbing material is not advantageous for marine purposes because once it gets wet it will add weight to the boat.

Definitely if you're using flotation foam for deck and jetty areas, you need high density foam. The lower densities won't provide the kind of buoyancy you're looking for. Also, you might find it useful to know that polyurethane foam turns yellow in sunlight and begins to deteriorate. So if your foam will be exposed to the sun, you might want to cover it with a layer of latex paint or something similar.