Wet foam?

[Cold Atlantic]

I just purchased a Mako 215 with a 200 hp Evinrude Ocean runner. Motor runs well and the boat has 308 hours on it. Motor has unknown hours.

The inboard fuel tank is bad and the foam is wet under the floor. I am going to run a remote tank this year and replace floor tank this winter.
The big question is how do I go about drying or replacing the foam?
Does anyone know if the foam runs all the way to the bow?
And one other question about the live well. I believe the live well pulls water from the Stern and ejects it also. But if I fill it on land and and hit the pump switch it does not move any water. I am not familiar with live wells and not sure how they normally work. Any ideas on that is appreciated.

The striped bass just showed up and I am like a kid before Christmas waiting to get this thing in the water.

Thanks for any inout,
AL

 

[kcassells]

Wet foam, deteriorated tank is a sure sign of all glassed in components under deck being rotted front to back.
On this forum alot of guys find the same problem after they buy a used boat. Ends of being a total rehab 99% of the time unfortunately.
We can guide you thru a rehab but I would not recommend running it for the summer due to safety issues.

 

[Redtruck12]

Wet foam is never good pictures always help.
its an indicator of rot, transom? Stringers? Maybe even decking which is the last thing to rot usually. In addition to water I would question how much fuel has collected in the hull.
flotation foam can vary but is usually throughout.
what type of access do you have to structural components (stringers, transom) ?
i would agree that it doesn’t sound like its seaworthy in its current state.

 

[Cold Atlantic]

There is a large tank cover about 4'x6' in the deck with two access panels to service the tank connections etc. I may just do the tank removal now and inspect whatever I can reach and see. Hopefully it's just the tank area. That is were I found the wet foam is around the access hatches to the tank. I'll get pics on in an hour or so.

 

[jbcurt00]

Mako center console?

Is it a hull & liner tub thats foam filled type construction similar to a Boston Whaler?

If so, its not a simple pull and replace the deck and foam rebuild.......

 

[Cold Atlantic]

I almost have the tank out. It does appear to be a similar construction as a whaler. But with the access panel and the tank removed it will allow me access to about 2/3 of the boat. I'll know for sure once I have the tank removed.

 

[Cold Atlantic]

Oh yeah it's what they call a dual console. Has a passenger seat with a glove box. Like a bow rider.

 

[gm280]

With a suspect fuel tank and you talking about wet foam, I hope the wet foam isn't holding fuel from the tank... :boom:

 

[Cold Atlantic]

I don't believe so just smells like bad water. No fuel smell.

 

[Cold Atlantic]

Tank has fuel in it and it's heavy. Done for today got to start the grill. I really think this is a fiber glass "bunker"with a drain that is sealed from the rest of the boat and foam. I can see fiberglass sides that I hope seal off the fuel tank from the rest of the boat. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Again I'll know more when I get the tractor and straps to pull the tank.

 

[kcassells]

A lot of earlier mfg's including my boat made access panels to gas tanks and other areas that just never sealed out water.
They looked great but are a huge failure. Hence... rehab.
Foam around a gas tank is another failure of prior year mfgs.

 

[Cold Atlantic]

[No message]

 

[kcassells]

Just like that. Yup... usually you end up finding a no-knowing owner putting caulk or silicon in the joints thinking
that was fix.

 

[kcassells]

Mako center console?

Is it a hull & liner tub thats foam filled type construction similar to a Boston Whaler?

If so, its not a simple pull and replace the deck and foam rebuild.......

Cept when foam gets wet its useless.

 

[jbcurt00]

Cept when foam gets wet its useless.

Why quote me? I basically agreed, it wont be a simple redo....

 

[kcassells]

Why quote me? I basically agreed, it wont be a simple redo....

IDK...cause I like ya?