Water Logged Foam

btomlins

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Oct 31, 2013
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I think the foam under the floor is water logged on my 1995 OMC Roughneck 1768AW. I weighed the boat and trailer the other day and it weighs 2880 lbs. I think that is way to much. Is there anyway to dry it out or do I need to completely remove the aluminum deck and replace the foam? What kind of foam board is recommended?
 

Grub54891

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No way to dry it. Has to be replaced with new foam. Two part pour in foam, 2lb density. Any other foam board is just wrong.
 

steve_h7

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Sep 16, 2018
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Ditto to 2 lb. foam...

I used some and it worked great.
 
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btomlins

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Oct 31, 2013
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Ok, so I remove the deck and the old foam. Then I pour the new liquid onto the floor and trim to top of floor stringers, correct? Re-attach floor with pop rivets again. Sounds easy but I know better........Thanks!
 

Scott Danforth

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got pics? we may see something to help you out, however that sounds about right.
 

Grub54891

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I laid the deck first, then drilled 1.5" holes at strategic locations and poured it in starting at the stern working fwd. it gave the foam a place to exit as i went along. trimmed the foam at the holes, and glassed the plugs back in. then laid a layer of glass over the whole deck.
 

btomlins

Seaman
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Oct 31, 2013
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Here are a couple pics of my aluminum deck on my Jetboat. You can kinda see the foam in the hole. If you squeeze the foam water squishes out.
 

btomlins

Seaman
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Oct 31, 2013
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77396556_3377107082332020_3692591166299045888_n.jpg
79126261_3377106722332056_6728518872837652480_n.jpg

This is what I found when I pulled up the floor. As I expected. Saturated foam.
 

Scott Danforth

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you can either use the 2-part foam or you can use poly foam sheats and cut to strips.
 

jbcurt00

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Pink, blue or green XPS sheet foam, depending on where you buy it. Its Extruded Poly Styrene.

Not EPS, its the white foam stuff styro coolers and cups are made of. Its Expanded Poly Styrene. Dont use it.....

In a fiberglass boat, I'd use pour in foam, but thats a whole different conversation....
 

btomlins

Seaman
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Oct 31, 2013
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61
I was thinking about drilling some small holes through each rib in the floor to aid in water drainage and running some wiring through them. Would it hurt the structural integrity of the ribs?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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depends where you drill.

the boat lasted 25 years with a bit of neglect prior to you tearing the floor out.

if you put it back the way it was and simply keep it in the garage to keep water from sitting in it, it would last indefinitely
 
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