What are best practices for boat maintenance?
Your Hewescraft boat requires care and maintenance including proper storage, care for wooden surfaces, and annual deck inspections.
What should I do if I believe the flotation foam in my Hewescraft has been compromised?
If you believe your flotation foam has soaked up so much water that your boat would no longer float were it filled with water, please contact your dealer for a foam evaluation.
Can I use or replace my existing foam with extruded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) or extruded polystyrene resin (rigid pink / blue board)?
We strongly recommend that you do not remove or replace the BASF closed-cell foam with any other material. Please be aware that gasoline dissolves polystyrene, breaking it down and letting the air within it escape. Once polystyrene foam has been effected in this way, it no longer provides any flotation value.
Why don’t you simply use extruded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) or extruded polystyrene resin (rigid pink / blue board) in your boats?
Both materials work well for flotation. However, they do not meet the performance specifications necessary to pass Coast Guard regulations for a Hewescraft boat.
I hear you use foam in place of aluminum because it is cheaper.
No, we do not. The process and material costs of installing foam far exceed the cost of simply using a non-foamed aluminum structure. Also, our carefully engineered heavy-gauge construction methods are what give every Hewescraft such a rigid and durable hull. Flotation foam does not provide a significant structural strength benefit to the hull.
Does the foam provide any structural support?
No. The foam in our boats is strictly in place to provide flotation in case of an on-the-water accident. An added benefit is that the foam provides enhanced sound-dampening and insulation throughout the hull.
I have heard that Coast Guard regulations only require flotation in boats of less than 20 feet in length. Why do Hewescraft boats longer than 20 feet in length also have flotation foam?
It is true that Coast Guard regulations require boats 20 feet and under to float to a minimum requirement if they are filled with water. Hewescraft’s commitment to safety, and our more than 70 years of experience, have taught us that foam flotation in boats of all lengths saves lives. So, although we are not required to do so, Hewescraft installs foam in every boat, no matter the size.
Can I purchase a boat without foam?
No. All Hewescraft boats have the safety feature of foam flotation added during the build process. Safety is our #1 priority.
What type of flotation foam does Hewescraft use?
We use a dense, closed-cell polyurethane foam in all Hewescraft boats. This type of foam is highly resistant to gasoline and oil and meets, or exceeds, all Coast Guard regulations for flotation foam.