So, just saw this online and immediately thought of using it in boats… They’ve finally come out with an aerogel insulation for consumer use. Just about double the R value of anything else you can name, and easy to work with. Sounds like a godsend for anyone building an icebox into a boat, eh? Here’s a link:
Looks exciting !
I had a good look at the website, and couldn’t get any idea of how much this material costs - have you?
Looks exciting !
I had a good look at the website, and couldn’t get any idea of how much this material costs - have you?
I’ve written to the company to find out a little bit more, but since it’s being marketed for home construction, I can’t imagine that the small amounts needed for a boat would be terribly expensive. I’m also thinking this stuff could be a good hull insulator…
Okay, got a reply from the company, who referred me to…
Pacor, Inc.
333 Rising Sun Road
Bordentown, NJ 08505
609-324-1100 Tel
609-324-1106 Fax
http://www.pacorinc.com/
They sent me a price list. For the 10mm thick stuff (R4 per layer), it comes in rolls 59" wide (5 feet). Prices are:
5 foot roll 25ft^2 $225 ($9/ft^2)
15 foot roll 75ft^2 $500 ($6.66/ft^2)
45 foot roll 225ft^2 $950 ($4.22/ft^2)
The stuff is hydrophobic, so it sheds water, but it WILL wick hydrocarbons, including diesel, gasoline, kerosene, etc. Sounds like it would an excellent deck/cabin insulation, but I’d encapsulate it somehow if it were down by the water line.
I did see a posting on an internet forum where someone indicated that they had bought some 9mm for $3/ft^2. I’ve contacted their supplier to check on their prices. Will report back once I get more info.
From my VERY rough calculations, to do the cabin and deck of a BCC would be just about what the large roll would cover. Interesting…
Good work - it looks as though the 10mm material would be ideal for lining the icebox.
I’m thinking of installing a cold plate to make it a proper refrigerator.
has anyone else done this?
Don’t know if anyone else has removed the pour in place foam, under the bottom of the f/g icebox liner, but I did.
It seems that condensation collected somehow in that foam and started turning the foam to a brown goo.
I have since heard reports of this happening on other boats , too.
My boat S L Morse completed in 1985.
How much work is it to check the foam? If I remove the counter top, does the icebox liner just lift out?
I’ve been thinking about upgrading the insulation and changing the cold plate. I’ve not proceeded because it looks like lots of work.
Craig
BCC 95