Should i remove side panels?

[Swampfox88]

boat is a 1436 tin.

I want to know if I remove the side panels out of the inside of my boat that are filled with foam. Do they affect anything?

The reason I would like to remove them is because it would free up some room about 3 inches on each side.

I am putting foam underneath the entire floor of the boat.

Thanks for any advice/opinions in advance.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Should i remove side panels?

Are you removing the foam too? On the sides like that it is probbally just for sound deadning.dont think it will bother it except for the soung. You can always put it back!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Should i remove side panels?

That foam is there to float the boat upright if swamped..... If you never swamp it removing the foam will make no difference.... if you swamp it with foam under the floor you will be more likely to capsize than if it were in the gunnels.... MANY boats have no foam at all... It's all up to you

As for the panels themselves, I can't tell from those tiny pics whether they are structural or not...

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Should i remove side panels?

Ahh,didnt think of swamping/ capsizing! Good point.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Should i remove side panels?

Foam floats, boats should float. I'm for keeping the foam there.