[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

Not that it should make a difference...but what does gas do to a noodle?...I suppose if ya ever had to deal w/it, a melted noodle would be the least of yer problems...

I have no idea. I know that gas melts Syrofoam, but I have no idea with it will do to pool noodle material. If, as I suspect, that the noodles are made out of polyurethane, then there probably will be no effect. Polyurethanes are not attacked by resins and they're resistant to gas and oil. They effect the foam only by a slight swelling after several hours of complete immersion when low density (1.5 to 2.O lbs. per cubic foot) types of foam are used. However, this quality of the low-density variety does allow it to absorb large quantities of water over a long period of time. (I'd be willing to bet that this is the type of foam that was origionally used in our boats.) Because of this, low density foam is not my recommendation for use below the waterline. For applications below the waterline, I think we should use urethane foams of 4.0 lbs. per cubic foot density or greater. At this density there is also no discernible impact on the foam from the hydrocarbon solvents such as gas or oil, and as an added bonus it will not absorb large quantities of water like the low density types do. I think a test block of pool noodle (say a 1" x 1" x 1" cube) weighed and measured carefully, then submerged in a pail of gasoline for 24 hours should prove or disprove it's use as foam floatation. If there is no decernable difference in size of weight, and the material doesn't soften, it should be ok for use belowdecks.