Foam

[OUI]

I have an '89 Saltare, can anyone tell me why Supra sprays foam in the bilge?

[DKJBama92Mariah]

So it won't sink when filled with water; at least not all the way to the bottom.

An argument can also be made that it makes the boat ride quieter and adds stiffness to the hull.

[OUI]

But they use open cell foam. It's a sponge that absorbs water and keeps it there. No wonder the older boats rot.

[riveredge]

you're both right - boat manufacturers have been required to meet minimum floatation requirements since 1970ish (at least for NMMA cert.)- almost always by spraying foam into various cavities, for better or for worse. Sure seems like a closed-cell foam would be smart, but nothing's perfect. Ideally, your boat never develops cracks in the floor or otherwise absorbs water into the floor. Sometimes its inevitable though and you gotta wonder when boats are designed in such a way as to allow this to happen without some kind of structural failure.