How Do You Insulate Bare Fiberglass?

[o_q]

I guess you could spray some insulating foam on it, and call it a day, but I imagine it can be more involved to make it look presentable, or perhaps proper. If I saw a boat like that, I would not want to buy it, and I would think the owner is lazy. But I am ignorant on the matter, so please enlighten me.

[Cheechako]

You mean in visible areas?

[Cotemar]

Use Neoprene rubber just like a dive suit.
Its a great insulator and can be glued on with contact cement.

Use 2" thick Neoprene to insulate a boat.

Neoprene foam is a soft, flexible and durable form-fitting sponge rubber that provides good thermal and moisture insulation. It is resistant to the Ozone, sunlight, oxidation, many chemicals and petroleum derivatives. Neoprene can resist breakdown by water and air and is able to be isolated by virtue of its unique molecular structure. Our neoprene comes in both regular and high quality densities.

Practical applications of neoprene foam are in athletic equipment like gloves, waders, wetsuits and knee and elbow pads. In an industrial capacity it functions as insulation, expansion joint filler in masonry and concrete work and filler support sealant in traffic bearing joints. Neoprene foam can also be used as a sound barrier in or on walls, ceilings or floors and is most effective when used as one component of a multi-layered construction scheme.

[The Garbone]

1.Neoprene sheets 2. Baby oil 3. Profit.....

[Cheechako]

There is everything from insulative paint to that white/blue packing foam , semi rigid sheets. Not sure there is a normal, but it will be interesting to hear if any manufacturers are doing it.... I had a salesman try to sell me insulative paint for a military project once... simply painted on an piece of sheet metal, he put it on top of a hot plate that was hot and you could touch the outside!

[o_q]

Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for.

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Use 2" thick Neoprene to insulate a boat.

That seems a bit unwieldy. I imagine it doesn't look too good sticking out that far.

[Delancey]

There's a product called Reflectix, it's like bubble wrap with a metalicized coating which reflects IR. Can get it at Home Cheapo or Lows.

Can put it on the hull and then cover it with your wood ceiling. 2" neoprene prolly isn't very cheap

[Roy M]

You can also clad 1/2" foam boards (the pink stuff at Home Depot) in a vinyl wallcovering to make it attractive and easy to keep clean. Glue it on with a tube of adhesive, but only enough to make it possible to remove, if you need to. Murphy's Law hasn't been repealed yet.

[o_q]

Originally Posted by Delancy

There's a product called Reflectix, it's like bubble wrap with a metalicized coating which reflects IR. Can get it at Home Cheapo or Lows.

Can put it on the hull and then cover it with your wood ceiling. 2" neoprene prolly isn't very cheap

No wood. This is bare fiberglass. For instance:

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by o_q

Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for.



That seems a bit unwieldy. I imagine it doesn't look too good sticking out that far.

I insulated Delfin with 1/4" acoustical cork. Remarkable sound deadening, with some thermal insulation thrown in. Would definitely do it again.

QuietCORK Cork Underlayment - Acoustical sound control cork

[o_q]

Originally Posted by Roy M

You can also clad 1/2" foam boards (the pink stuff at Home Depot) in a vinyl wallcovering to make it attractive and easy to keep clean. Glue it on with a tube of adhesive, but only enough to make it possible to remove, if you need to. Murphy's Law hasn't been repealed yet.

I wonder if it stretches. The curvature of a boat must wrinkle it.

[o_q]

Originally Posted by Delfin

I insulated Delfin with 1/4" acoustical cork. Remarkable sound deadening, with some thermal insulation thrown in. Would definitely do it again.

QuietCORK Cork Underlayment - Acoustical sound control cork

This looks interesting in that I could kill two birds with one stone.

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by o_q

This looks interesting in that I could kill two birds with one stone.

It comes in different thicknesses and can be applied with construction adhesive. I used Liquid Nails.

[The Garbone]

Originally Posted by o_q

No wood. This is bare fiberglass. For instance:

The good part of the design is that a few Clorox wipes and its clean and looks good as new. It is amazing the amount of condensation 2 people can cause in that cabin in the winter.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by The Garbone

The good part of the design is that a few Clorox wipes and its clean and looks good as new. It is amazing the amount of condensation 2 people can cause in that cabin in the winter.

When you insulate the rain (condensation) will stop. Works great under the matresses also