remove saturated foam, replace with new

[jze1212]

Hello all... I recently bought this 14' 72 MFG TriHull (that is what the reg. says, dont look like MFG though , another topic).. Well, the floor had alot of soft spots under the rug so I gutted it and sure enough the floor is just completely waterlogged.. Seems to be a thin thin layer of fiberglass over some thing plywood forr the floor, which is glassed in.. I cut out a small area and the foam underneath is SOAKED! HEAVY, etc.. So I am going to rip it all out and then replace foam and lay down a new floor, glass it in... Just thought I would feel around and see who has got any advice or things to look out for, as I am going into this blind, other than having some decent common sense Any feedback greatly apprerciated....

 

[jze1212]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

Anyone?????

 

[ljshein]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

My advice is read all of the posts in this forum of the people that have gone before you. There is a ton of great advice here from really nice folks.<br /><br />There is also a good book you can find on Amazon called "Runabout Restoration" it's a little dated but the advice is sound and its a great starting point.<br /><br />Good Luck!<br />Jeff

 

[brownies]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

Remove it, don't replace it unless you want to do it all over again. (give those areas that now have foam in them a way to drain future water).

 

[jze1212]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

Thanks for the advice, well I would think for sure that I would have to throw some foam in there, as it seems that the foam in there plays a roll in the hull's integrity, I would just use the closed cell foam and be sure there is a clear way for the water to bilge down

 

[Pan-one]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

A roofing shovel works well if you have the room. I used a paint scraper to dig into the foam. It's a real pain in the a$$. After removing foam I sanded till I hit the hull. A great place to buy foam is US COMPOSITES, also they have a great price on fiberglass/epoxy. Good Luck !!<br /> http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/tellAFriend,p,147,00.html

 

[Always Broke]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

I know what your talking about JZE1212, been there, done that. The foam stiffens the haul and floor on boats that were built with light materials so it not only provides flotation but also is used in structural integrity. There is more then one way to skin a cat though, if you saw my den with all the cat pelts hanging around you would know what I am talking about I am a foam hater as is so many of the readers here. Your going to have it apart anyhow you may want to consider a little extra work unlike the original manufacture and use stringers and pick another form of flotation that is less prone to fail. I hate to do things twice after a short period of time and that’s what can happen with foam flotation. Don’t get me wrong if you manage to seal things tight enough it may never get wet, but Murphy’s law seems to follow me around what ever can happen will. Every floor I ever tore apart had the same problem bad foam.

 

[katbird]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

JZE, I had to do the same to my 1972 tri hull. first you should remove the top of the boat and then tear out the floor.I would think that the stringers are also bad mine were. here are a couple of pics of what I had to do. <br />

 

[jze1212]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

How do you get the top of the boat off like that? I dont think that is going to happen with mine, but there is going to be some serious cutting going on with the floor, get it all outta there, then see what is going on.. I just dont want to spend a bundle on this, as I do have another hull I can use if I want, but I really like this one so I am going to make it work, just on the cheap, but sturdy at the same time.. Some how! We'll see on Saturday when I bust out the power tools!!!! I'll keep you posted

 

[Realgun]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

I happen to like the new foams. I have a small amount floating in water and its been floating for over a year now. It will not absorb water unless cut. The remove the floor you will want to use a 4.5" angle grinder. Read a few posts around here it will tell you how and where to use the tool.<br /><br />I know what some people say but I say replace the foam with the new 2-part stuff you will be happy with it.

 

[Realgun]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

Oh and to get the last little bits of foam get a wire whisk for that angle grinder and it will met or sand away the foam as if were butter. <br /><br />>>>>>>>>>>Wear a good dust mask<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

[katbird]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

take the rub rail off of the boat and there should be pop rivets or screws holding the top on the hull. some are glassed together but yours may be just pop riveted. it makes it a lot easier to work with and do it right. resin will cost more than anything as I used 12 gallons on mine and a lot of labor and I mean sore back and itching with all of the glass dust.

 

[jze1212]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

<br /><br />Here she is...

 

[jze1212]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

After I yanked the interior, I cut a hole to see what was going on, not pretty...<br /><br />

<br />

 

[katbird]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

that top comes off. you just have to remove the rubber on the rail and see if it is pop revited of screwed on. I would also check the transom for rot. nice boat!

 

[jze1212]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

I suppose that would be the way to go for sure! But I just dont have a garage to do all of this work in, etc, BUT, we will see what happens when I get going on it this weekend, thanks!

 

[Always Broke]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

I copied this from US Composites FAQ, how the heck do you know if it's retaining moisture somewhere?<br /><br /> <br />14. Is this foam water resistant?<br />Yes, but with the following caveat. The foams that we sell are considered closed-cell, which means that each cell that makes up the foam structure is completely closed off from surrounding cells which prevents it from acting like a sponge. It is completely safe for this foam to be in contact with water for hours/days/weeks and even months with no adverse effects. However, it should never be submerged in contact with water permanently. Over a period of years the water contact can begin to soften the foam and cause it to lose its closed-cell status. This foam is designed primarily to be used as an insurance policy in case of damage/holes that could cause a vessel to lose buoyancy. Pinhole sized openings would essentially have no effect on the foam since the amount of exposure is so minimal but you should always make repairs as soon as possible to keep the foam effectiveness as good as possible. This will be the case will all after market closed-cell polyurethane foams and even manufacturer installed foams.<br /><br />It will probably last a long time, maybe I am biased because I am always messing around with antique boats that have been subjected to neglect and ran across a lot of rotten foam. I saw someone’s signature on iboats that about sums it up, “The most expensive thing you can say is while we’re at it” Good luck with your boat, take your time and do it to the best of your ability and wallet.

 

[brownies]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

Why can you not insert a plastic bag into the compartment that you will be filling with foam floatation, and then fill the bag with foam? <br /> Water won't get thru that plastic bag will it?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

The nice thing about the plastic bag method is that each area is custom fit and you can just lift it out if it does get water logged. I've been told that even in bags it will get wet, I haven't seen it happen, but I haven't seen one that was bagged after it's been abused for a few years either.

 

[brownies]

Re: remove saturated foam, replace with new

Answer:<br />Because it's easier to remove. Ondarvr wins right off the bat.<br />And, it will still get wet. The bag will get holes in it from the roughness of the hull. <br />Now, think about "closed-cell"....<br />It's not the middle of the foam that will get wet, it's the edges that are against the wood/fiberglass. Once wet, won't dry.<br /> I'm not sure any company builds a boat that has a hull that is so thin that they consider the structure support of floatation foam as a factor? <br /> Of course, any boat company will list anything they do to the boat as a selling point. Might even mention it twice.<br /> "It's got twice the required floatation...buy this boat"<br /> "It add structural integrity is one reason we use it...buy this boat"<br /> Those sound good in a brochure, but, I have yet to take a boat apart that did not have waterlogged foam (never taken anything newer than 99 model apart though).<br /><br /> Just never seen "it will get waterlogged, hold moisture, cause rot" in a brochure though??