A lot of people see our boats and think that the collar around the boat is filled with air. It is not their fault, because most manufactures that put collars on their boats uses air. Under low pressure the air is put into bladders which are usually glued and sometimes mechanically fastened to the hull. Because of their inherent loss of flotation and stability if the collar were cut or ruptured they are required by the USCG to be segmented into multiple chambers so that if one fails the boat won’t lose too much buoyancy. The concept works and has been a staple for many years in certain applications.
But the USCG for the past 15 years has found a better technology, Foam Collars. They have found that they are more durable, remove the concern of puncturing or losing air, add more stability and are easier to repair or service.
Life Proof Boats was founded under the principle of giving the recreational industry the safest platform we can. That is why we are a little obsessed with Foam. Just to be clear this is not the foam you find protecting your new TV when you pull it out of the boat, or the two part mixed foams that other manufactures inject below their decks. Those foams hold water. Even the foams you have been told are closed cell and are injected under the decks of other builders will hold water over time. They are only closed cell at first formation when rigid. Over time as the boat stresses and shutters with stress as it is used the cells crack and open allowing water to enter them. They also are not as resilient to fossil fuels or nitro methane products as the foams we use. We use closed cell polyethylene foam.
EPE (Expanded Polyethylene) Foam
EPE beads produce a very flexible closed-cell foam which offers a high degree of resiliency. This material can withstand repetitive deformations and still maintain its dimensions and cushioning ability. EPE beads are compressed over heat into molds. You do not inject this foam. We glue or key it into large planks then cut it to shape on our CNC foam cutting table.
EPE foams are also resistant of fungus, mildew, and bacteria. If you buy one of our boats we will warranty the foam for the life of the boat.
The density of the foam is 1.3 lbs/cuft so you end up with approx. 62 lbs of flotation with every cubic ft of collar on the boat.
It’s also under the decks!
We don’t just put the foam in the collars. We cut it to shape and put it under the decks. We want to provide 2 times the required buoyancy of the boat in the case the boat fills with water. With our self-bailing decks that then ensure the water will always be forced out of the boat through the large scuppers on the deck, even if you fill it to the top of the gunnels.
For Example
You can have two relatively large gentlemen stand on the gunnel of our full cabin boat and it will roll less than 5 degrees. Try doing that in your average boat and you may find water in the boat.
We can do air collars!
If requested too we can produce air collars but they won’t be like everyone else. We do not make the outside membrane the air holding cell that way you only have to replace less expensive internal bladders if you have a failure of a cell. You simple unzip the outer membrane, pull out the ruptured air cell, install the new one, zip back up the outer membrane and inflate the air cell. You can do it on the boat, yourself! No longer do you need to find a specialist to replace the ruptured cells.
We also do Air Foam Hybrid Collars!
For the user that wants a RIB, but likes the security they get from the foam collars we can provide what we call hybrid collars. Patent Pending We will construct an outer air holding cell that wraps around the inner foam core. We can ratio the air to foam to whatever the user needs. We like 20% air and 80% foam. Around the air foam hybrid system you then have the outer membrane with a zipper in it. That way if something happened to the air cell you could still unzip and replace it without ever having to remove the collar from the boat.
FAST
Here at IMS, we are working on new collar technologies that will advance the industry. We have established a brand around this technology called FAST. It stands for Foam Air Stabilized Technologies. Our new foam, air, or foam/air hybrid collar systems are revolutionizing the industry. Mated with our patented collar attachment and installation systems, installation, removal, or repair of the collar will be smooth and easy. FAST has the ability to provide 100% foam, 100% air, or foam/air hybrid systems with any ratio of foam or air depending on your application. Our system also allows you to change the ratio of air to foam in the future by simply changing out the air bladder.
Here at IMS, we are working on new collar technologies that will advance the industry. We have established a brand around this technology called FAST. It stands for Foam Air Stabilized Technologies. Our new foam, air, or foam/air hybrid collar systems are revolutionizing the industry. Mated with our patented collar attachment and installation systems, installation, removal, or repair of the collar will be smooth and easy. FAST has the ability to provide 100% foam, 100% air, or foam/air hybrid systems with any ratio of foam or air depending on your application. Our system also allows you to change the ratio of air to foam in the future by simply changing out the air bladder.
We don't need collars, they just make the boat better!
