Hull insulation

[marshmat]

Originally Posted by pcmm

Armaflex is great insulation but I'm not sure its practical to use to insulate a boat with. I'm in the process of doing that ground work now and investigated Armaflex, but to insulate my boat ( 41ft sailboat) would have cost me over $2000. The stuff where I am is $700 PER roll. Instead I'm using 3/4" EVA foam tiles for my insulation (I'm going to be a cold climate liveaboard again)

I seem to recall the newer Dashew aluminum powerboats are insulated with Armaflex, with good performance. Yes, it is horrifically expensive.

If you have some idea of the humidity levels you expect to have inside the boat, then a psychrometric chart will let you calculate the temperature you need to maintain on the interior side of the insulation to ensure it never hits the dew point (which would cause condensation to form, which you want to avoid). Then you can look at the interior & exterior air temperatures and calculate the R- or RSI-value of the insulation that's necessary to keep the inner surface well above the dew point. Then you can convert that to a thickness per the data sheets for the insulation material you plan to use.

[GordMay]

You might consider ArmaFlex 520 (orLow Voc) Insulation Adhesive
➥ https://www.armacell.us/products/armaflex520/

[dannc]

Originally Posted by marshmat

I seem to recall the newer Dashew aluminum powerboats are insulated with Armaflex, with good performance. Yes, it is horrifically expensive.
...

Yes, the Dashew FPBs used Armaflex.

Here is a link to a guy who built a steel Buehler designed Swan 55. He used Armaflex, at first without the glue to save money but he then switched to using the Armaflex with glue already applied to save time.

Building Koloa (Kama Hele): Insulation

He has several pages of discussions on using the product in the posts following the link.

At one point he had to add/change something on the hull. I forgot exactly but he had to remove a part of his interior and the Arrmaflex. The insulation was well glued into place as I remember it.

Assuming one has the space, my two cents is to use a thick enough Armaflex to insulate the hull and prevent moist air getting to the structure, then use a batt insulation like rock wool to finish. This should save a bit of money, and depending on the build, allow access to cables.

Late,
Dan

[Strait Shooter]

Originally Posted by Torsten Hansen

That’s how I feel about the self stick, this is not an installation that can easily be redone. What brand of adhesive did you use?

I used Weldwood Contact Cement by DAP

[Rumrace]

Ceramic fibre insulation also know as aerogel. Was invented to replace balsa as insulation in a gel form. Apparently acts as vapour barrier in some sheet rolls.
I think airline manufactures like Boeing have a handle on ceramic insulation.
I saw some in soft sheet rolls 8mm thick. Gets taped in place and is silly lightweight

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

Ceramic fibre insulation also know as aerogel. Was invented to replace balsa as insulation in a gel form. Apparently acts as vapour barrier in some sheet rolls.
I think airline manufactures like Boeing have a handle on ceramic insulation.
I saw some in soft sheet rolls 8mm thick. Gets taped in place and is silly lightweight

Think you're confusing aerogel with something else.
aerogels are also made from balsa.
https://www.makeitfrom.com/compare/Balsa/Silica-Aerogel