How to dissolve this foam.....

[glengold]

I have water logged foam in a middle section of my 16' cc welcraft. I know it needs to go, but don't have the facilities to cut the top off and scoop it out. Anyone know the best way to dissolve this stuff and shop vac it out?? I have one access port, and the area is approx. 4' x 6' Thanks!

 

[saildan]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

I have water logged foam in a middle section of my 16' cc welcraft. I know it needs to go, but don't have the facilities to cut the top off and scoop it out. Anyone know the best way to dissolve this stuff and shop vac it out?? I have one access port, and the area is approx. 4' x 6' Thanks!

Any solvent such as acetone or MEK that will dissolve either marine styrofoam or polyurethane foam will leave you with two things - a goo in the bottom of your boat akin to bubble gum on a hot sidewalk and when you pull the fumes into your shop vac a potential for an explosion that could take out you, your boat and anything else for 100'.

You might find something like waterbased Ready Strip will dissolve it, but there's still the issue of a resulting mass that's horribly gooey and if it doesn't also attack some plastics in your shop vac will likely clog it up rendering it null & void.

I think if you don't have the right facilities to do a correct job you'll be better off taking your boat to a repair shop.


_

 

[CN Spots]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

Not sure what would be strong enough to dissolve the foam that wouldn't risk attacking the resin that holds your boat together. Plus I don't think you could fill the entire void w/solvent, it would just eat a hole down through the foam and make it's way to the bilge. If the foam is soaked I'd bet that the stringers and transom are wet/rotten as well. Even if the stringers and transom were ok then soaking them in solvent would probably do them in. Especially if they're plywood.

 

[westexasrepublic]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

theres a reason no one has done this...or reccomends this

 

[glengold]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

so what about cutting it up into a bunch of small pieces and taking them out one by one?? It'll be hard to get to the stuff in the back, but with a really long knife... I don't know what to do. I hope the stringers are not rotten, I have reason to believe that the water has only been in there for less than a year

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

glengold,
As far as dissolving the foam, NO such luck Mek/acetone won't even start to dissolve Poly foam. The only chemical that comes close is methane chloride and it won't do it very well. It's also a known carcinogenic ( cancer causing) not recommended. If you can't remove the deck then you will have to do it the way you mentioned. If it's been there a year, you may be too late. Take some core samples on your stringers and determine their status.
Good luck
Bob

 

[Allbutwet]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

PB blaster will dissolve it. Don't ask how I know that. Honestly though the best thing to do is remove all of the wet foam. I'm not familiar with your model. However if you look at my thread I was able to replace all of mine without removing the top cap. Not saying it's the best way. Sometimes you just have to do the best with what you have; but definately do not dissolve it. That will only make a mess out of things. Good luck.

 

[oops!]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

the best way to dissolve foam is with a chainsaw.

takes seconds and there is no liquid goo at the bottom of the boat.

taking it out dry is a better solution because you can vac it up......the goo will be impossible to clean.

 

[jonesg]

Re: How to dissolve this foam.....

Yeh I cut foam out with an elec chainsaw, made one cut underneath it holding the saw flat. An elec carving knife slices it good too.
Black and decker sells them at wallmart for $10.

But the bottom line is ..the deck has to come off.
Sooner or later, the deck will come off.
You can pick and peck at the job
but in the end, the deck will come off.