Adding Foam to a Lowe UV1467 Aluminum Boat

[tidymighty]

Hey everyone. I'm trying to see what is best as it relates to adding foam to my 2017 Lowe UV 1467 aluminum boat modification. The boat is a mod-v with a 47" base from the front bench to the back bench. I'm will add flooring which will be 36" wide and 66" in length. This is the space between the front and back benches. I'm also cutting out the middle bench leaving approximately 12" on each side of the bench that is riveted to the hull. I plan to tie each side of the remaining 12" sides of the middle bench to the front and back benches. This will make the hull walls from the deck floor up to about 12" high 12" wide and 66" long. Attaching the remaining 12" of the middle bench to the front and back benches is my way of keeping the center of the boat strong. Here is my question, should 2" pink foam be added in the bottom of the hull underneath the new deck, or in the new side walls of the hull. Or maybe both? The new side wall of the hull will be approximately 12" wide and be in between the front and back benches. I'm using all aluminum angles and sheets for the deck and hull walls. The hull wall will also act as a step to step in and out of the boat to the dock.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you know that the benches are structural.

cutting out the middle bench means your sides get floppy.

 

[tidymighty]

you know that the benches are structural.

cutting out the middle bench means your sides get floppy.

Thank you for pointing out the possible floppy condition of the sides when a middle bench is taken, well understood. This is why I'm leaving 12" of the bench on both sides. The bench is already attached to the hull. This will allow the inner side of the bench to be attached to the bottom gussets like you see in other walk-through manufactured boats, and the 12" sides will connect to the front and rear benches. This will compensate structure for taking out 36" of the middle part of that middle bench. This will also alleviate both sides of the boat becoming floppy. See the picture below of a walkthrough lowe boat WT1467. I have the UV1467.
Do you have a suggestion for the foam?