Foam for foam puck - can the foam be too hard?

I'm getting ready to install an in-hull transducer.  I have a block of high-density foam to make the water-bath-puck-thingamabob but it's a very dense, rigid foam.

I can rasp it to a good fit, but there will be hardly any "give" to the foam to grasp the transducer.

The question is: should I be looking for a hunk of foam that is not as rigid as what I have, or will it make a difference?

i've found that the foam used for pool noodles is perfect

If you have a GoodWill, go see if you can find a block of closed cell foam from a cheap PFD, or swim toy.

So you're saying I don't want the foam to be as hard as a rock?

you might be overthinking this a bit. the physical properties should such that the foam can firmly hold the puck in place.

Over-thinking?  Moi?  Perish the thought!

I was cutting and rasping away on this foam and had two thoughts.  (A) Wow! This is going to take longer than 10 minutes, and (B) there's no "give" or rebound to this foam to hold the transducer firmly in place.

But (B) might have been the beginning of an excuse to find something easier to cut and shape.

I'll keep going with what I have on hand.

So you're saying I don't want the foam to be as hard as a rock?

Just needs to be closed cell foam.  Goop it and your good.  too easy.  Thought that you already had this setup.

Just needs to be closed cell foam.  Goop it and your good.  too easy.  Thought that you already had this setup.

Nope. The first setup was for a Lowrance-ready Hobie.  This time it's in-hull for a WS Tarpon.  It's done and the GOOP is curing, but what a PITA it was to carve into super-dense sculptural foam.  The carving was the only hard part.

Over-thinking?  Moi?  Perish the thought

Tinker, when I see your posts I think "there's that guy that overthinks things worse than I do!" 


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Tinker, when I see your posts I think "there's that guy that overthinks things worse than I do!" 

Yeah, I do.  If they made a pill for it, I'd be taking it.  If there's a way to make something simple into something complicated, I'll do the Rube Goldberg version every time, and what you all do is remind me that I'm a being a potatohead.  I know it's a hard job, but until they start making those pills...  Thank you!

They already make pills of that.  Just get yourself a container of orange Tic-Tacs. 
They put something in them to make you look at a project and just understand it without having to overthink it. 

There, I just gave out my secret. 

They already make pills of that.  Just get yourself a container of orange Tic-Tacs. 
They put something in them to make you look at a project and just understand it without having to overthink it. 

There, I just gave out my secret.

LIMITLESS !!  Tinker, that's you.

They already make pills of that.  Just get yourself a container of orange Tic-Tacs. 
They put something in them to make you look at a project and just understand it without having to overthink it. 

There, I just gave out my secret.

 

LIMITLESS !!  Tinker, that's you.

 

Yes, indeed the foam CAN be too hard.  It worked fine for a few trips, but I somehow flexed the hull the other day - probably when loading it into the truck - and the puck pulled away from the hull and won't hold water anymore.

Yeah, the foam was fitted, and thickly and thoroughly Gooped to the hull, and it was working fine, but it is more rigid than the flat spot of the hull and it pulled-away from the Goop.

Hard, sculptural foam does not make a good puck.  Bummer.