I got a PM message on the forum about my plans for insulating my boat and after elaborating on my plans I figured I might as well post it for others to comment/critique.
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I wasn't sure if I really wanted to tackle insulation but now, while the interior is stripped down, is the only time to do it.
I am going with a product called "Armacell AP" made by the company "Armaflex". It is a closed cell foam designed as a marine insulation. It is very flexible, water and fire resistant.
Based on the sales rep's suggestion I am going with a 1 inch thickness. The charts seem to indicate 3/4" would be sufficient but what the heck, more is better, right?
This stuff is attached with a proprietary contact cement. I think most any contact cement would work but naturally the company won't stand behind their product if something else is used. A gallon of the cement costs $30 so it seemed reasonable to go with it.
I am fighting the cold weather which is going to restrict my progress but basically, I am glassing in the tank supports, bulkheads and anything else that needs to be attached directly to the hull. The insulation is pretty soft and spongy so I will be lining the interior spaces where stored items would contact the insulation with 1/4" plywood. In order to secure the plywood I need to glass in a few strategically placed wooden blocks against the hull to give me something to screw down to. The screws and more contact cement will secure the panels covering the insulation.
It is a pain in the neck but if I don't do it now then it will never happen. Early and late season water temperatures around me can be in the 40's and 50's which can really add a chill to the cabin. Those foggy Maine days and periods of otherwise high humidity can also lead to an awful lot of hull "sweating" and general cabin dampness. Both of these issues will be improved a lot by the insulation and with the small wood/coal stove installed, I expect the boat to stay pretty comfortable even through a cruise into the Canadian maritime provinces.
The plan is to insulate the entire cabin area of the hull including the underside of the cabin sole. I don't intend to insulate the underside of the deck because it would be too much of a pain and I am telling myself that the coring provides me with a limited but acceptable insulation factor. I could be wrong about that but I am NOT going to go to that much trouble. I will sail to points south first. This will cover the entire cabin area from the V-berth (and maybe aft side of the chain locker - not sure yet- it would be a pain and I am not sure if it would be productive) to the aft end of the galley area. I am fitting proper bulkheads to the sort-of bulkheads found under the bridge deck and will insulate forward of there. Aft of the bridge deck, the "engine room", the bilge, and the chain locker areas will not be insulated from the hull.
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That's it. All comments and critiques welcomed, though I reserve the right to totally ignore anything I read :-)
When I get some decent pictures I will post them here as well.
-Britton