Flotation foam/wood decking

[Newbie@boats]

I have a 1983 sea nymph 17ft fishing boat I want to redo and redo the decking and reseal the hull-it's a riveted hull and the bildge area will take on half a gallon/gallon of water every trip out not even enough to have the bildge pump pump it out.

2 questions, it already has all new wood 3/4 plywood, I don't like the carpet color since it shows dirt and blood from fish.

Is there something as strong as 3/4 ply wood that would weigh less? The rear pedestal seat relies on the wood to support it so I don't want to weaken it.....but if I could get something with color already on it so I don't have to have any carpet at all that would be ideal.

Second, in the rear of the boat there's 2 spots probably 2x4ft filled with foam and they would make a great area to make additional storage/live well does that foam actually help the boat float or does it help the boat if it were to let's say stay a float if it were to sink?

 

[fhhuber]

Foam in the hull is there to (hopefully) keep it afloat even if you rip the bottom open. Modern specs for the amount of foam will generally keep the boat floating even if you pump water in so its spilling over the gunwales (beyond worst case real life in calm water).

You could probably still float swamped with some foam removed but where the foam is removed would matter to if it floats level when swamped. Its much better if it floats level. The closer the foam you intend to remove is to the engine, the more likely you are to cause the boat to end up floating nose up. You aren't likely to be able to get your boat to float nose down when swamped with the motor still attached.

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I wouldn't remove foam without putting in new foam somewhere else to keep total foam volume the same