Foam support for inside the pro angler

Hello,
Does anyone know a good place to purchase the kind of foam blocks Hobie uses inside the pro anglers as support? Thank you!

I recently received a 2012 pro rated warranty hull for my 2010 PA 14. It was warrantied due to a crack forming in one of the drain areas adjacent to the seat deck area. Thanks to Hobie and my local dealer for being so great about customer service. I am assuming that you want the foam support to attempt to prevent this from happening with yours? Or maybe just more support in the area where you stand?
After I brought my new hull home I set it on one of my kayak stands in my shop, pulled up a stool and started pondering what to do while consuming adult beverages and listening to the world's greatest rock band. Somewhere near the end of my third beverage and 9th or 10th track the light came on. The next day on the way home from work I stopped off at Hibbett Sports and made a $30 purchase. When I got home I used a ball needle to deflate the 5 red kick balls. I then placed them in the hull under the seating area where I "swagged" would be the best location. I then used my shop air hose and ball needle and reinflated the balls, but only to about half of their capacity. Only half capacity because that seemed like enough based on my on "visual spacial dynamics aproximations". This not only gives support but it is still somewhat flexible.
I have no idea if this will help or work, but I can't help but think that it is better than nothing. I'm also sure that from time to time I may need to check on and possibly add air to the balls. I'm sure that foam placed in the hull would need to be checked on to make sure it is still in place and was not loosing it's value from being compressed during use in the same manner.
Just an idea I had and thought I should pass it on so that it may lead to something better.

_________________
"I have always found it easier to show people what the coolest things about fishing are, rather than just tell them another fish story."
--Jose Wejebe

Thanks for the response. You are correct, the crack is what I am trying to prevent. Thanks for the creative idea using the balls as support. I will ponder this idea over a few beverages this evening, seems like it would work well. Thanks again!

The material is ethefoam.

http://www.ashleydistributors.com/category/foam?PHPSESSID=b77c7070f3b0ebd6b723e68774cfc2ca

Same as used for pool noodles. You could gang a few noodles sections cut to length and strapped together to make pylons?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks Matt!

hi, I had a few questions about the foam inserts. first, good idea adding support, I might try it since I am a heavy guy. but for support, is there any reason why that dense foam insulation board would be a bad idea? Some of that stuff is hard as a rock, similar to boogie board material.

Also, one of my factory foam blocks near the rear hatch is loose; I just keep pushing it forward. should it be locked in place?

And finally, does the foam actually help the kayak under normal conditions? Or is it just for emergencies like a flooded hull or a punctured pontoon? Will stuffing every extra space with foam actually change the ride of the kayak or increase the weight cap. or raise the draft or anything?

Hello,
The dense foam may work fine, I ended up finding some closed cell foam on craigslist. I made pillars and packed in where I could. You just want to be carefull not to apply pressure to the rudder cables that run inside the kayak. The factory foam should probably be kept where it was originally placed. I check mine every once and a while and adjust as needed. I simply wanted it for support, the foam is so light I can't see it having any negative effect on the kayak as long as it isn't pressed against the rudder cables.