Floatation Foam Removal Without Pulling the Cap on a 1984 Glasstream Hydrabass 1700

[Matt129]

Ok I am asking this in preparation, I’m not sure if my boat needs this or not but I will be finding out soon and I’d like to know what to do when and if it does need this lol. As the title says I have a 84’ Glasstream. The deck is solid, and the stringers and transom seem sound. But recently while reaching around under the rear live well through a small access hole that one of the previous owners made allegedly to access some wiring, I found some water saturated foam. I don’t know how large this area is, because if you reach a little more forward in the boat the foam seems dry and through the access holes at the front ish area of the boat the foam is dry as a bone. I will be taking the boat out to see how it floats in a couple days and depending on that goes I will be deciding what to do next. If it floats and rides fine I’ll leave it alone, but if it leans or almost swamps or something… then I’ll dig into it lol. If it comes to that (dear Lord I pray it doesn’t) how can I get a large portion of the wet foam out without cutting this boat completely up or God forbid removing the cap lol. I don’t need this boat to be perfect brand new etc etc, I just need the easiest and cheapest way to get the job done good enough and quick lol, not necessarily the “right” way. Something that one guy could do in a week tops to get me by because the family is very eager to get fishing and I am too lol. Praying it doesn’t come to this, but if it does I would appreciate suggestions. Keep in mind money is EXTREMELY tight on this Jerry rig “Restoration” and getting a different boat isn’t really an option . There appears to be an old waterline stain on the hull of the boat… and if it is then the waterline is above the splash well drain hole and it’s leaning very much to the right . Hope that isn’t a waterline stain lol, it might just be where the old cover was. Thanks for the suggestions, and say a prayer for me that isn’t a waterline stain and the boat is perfectly fine as is lol.

 

[Chris1956]

Bass boats do not usually have very much foam in them. Therefore I doub't you will see a list or swamp-type behavior. When bass boats fill with water, the stern with it's heavy engine, usually sinks and the bow floats.

The issue you face is that the wet foam will rot out the stringers and deck. The cure is to tear out the deck, dig out the foam, repair any rot in the stringers, pour in new foam and install a new deck and seal it with fiberglass cloth and resin. Whether you can do this with the cap installed is dependent on the design. For my bass-type speedboat, I was able to.

 

[kcassells]

Total rehab...

 

[Lectro88]

The other thing to keep in mind.
If you have wet foam, the water is already in. And freezing with weather changes causes more foam to rupture like a drink left in the freezer. so it "can" grow every year if its fed or water is/can have access.
Also you digging around in this foam is creating places or ruptures for water to get in if it isn't already. and again that can grow.
If you find dry foam that has been dug in or you dug in it, its best to seal that area with epoxy to keep the water out. because once you open it.. most likely water will find its way in. somehow, someway.

Its one of those, let a sleeping dog lay or leave it alone things.
Otherwise you are opening a door wider for more trouble to enter.
If that made any sense.

 

[Matt129]

The other thing to keep in mind.
If you have wet foam, the water is already in. And freezing with weather changes causes more foam to rupture like a drink left in the freezer. so it "can" grow every year if its fed or water is/can have access.
Also you digging around in this foam is creating places or ruptures for water to get in if it isn't already. and again that can grow.
If you find dry foam that has been dug in or you dug in it, its best to seal that area with epoxy to keep the water out. because once you open it.. most likely water will find its way in. somehow, someway.

Its one of those, let a sleeping dog lay or leave it alone things.
Otherwise you are opening a door wider for more trouble to enter.
If that made any sense.

Yes that makes sense. It seems from what I can tell through the areas that the previous owner cut access holes into that the wet foam isn’t throughout the whole boat, just in some smaller areas. I am going to seal this boat up like Fort Knox so no more moisture can get in and hope I can put a total rehab off for a loooooong time .

 

[Matt129]

The other thing to keep in mind.
If you have wet foam, the water is already in. And freezing with weather changes causes more foam to rupture like a drink left in the freezer. so it "can" grow every year if its fed or water is/can have access.
Also you digging around in this foam is creating places or ruptures for water to get in if it isn't already. and again that can grow.
If you find dry foam that has been dug in or you dug in it, its best to seal that area with epoxy to keep the water out. because once you open it.. most likely water will find its way in. somehow, someway.

Its one of those, let a sleeping dog lay or leave it alone things.
Otherwise you are opening a door wider for more trouble to enter.
If that made any sense.

Ok I have updates. Took the boat out today and it did beautifully. It floated level and it didn’t hardly leak at all (just a little near the plug) , the electrical system held up and the trolling motor didn’t go out on me. But best of all I caught one fish so at least I know it can at least catch one . I’m going to seal it up, work on the mechanical stuff and leave the foam alone lol.