Waterlogged foam?

KCKracker

KCKracker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
291
Well I'm pretty sure that I got bit which really just discussed me considering that I'm about mechanic I just bought a 1978 fiber form that is in absolutely beautiful condition the floor is perfectly solid they upgraded to a four stroke but it's only a 1:15 for this 20 ft boat that should be nothing but I put it in the water for the first time today and the motor dish fills up with 4 inches of water above the spillway drain hole and it's about an inch and a half from spilling over the top of the transom while I'm standing on the dock not even in the boat I'm absolutely disgusted.
I was in denial for a couple hours but I'm sure someone here can confirm it this four-stroke 115 is not too heavy for this boat it's supposed to seat six people and the motor is only 130 lb heavier than the original two-stroke.
If one person gets in the boat the water line comes up to the top of the transom so tell me is this two-stroke too heavy for a 20 ft fiber farm it's a deep hole fishing boat and it's four stroke is only 318 lb where is the original two-stroke was at least 250 to 280 I would think?? I'm sure a boat builder on here could confirm what it should be buoyant for.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250413_191558774_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20250413_191558774_HDR.jpg
    807 KB · Views: 26
  • IMG_20250413_191511743.jpg
    IMG_20250413_191511743.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 25
Grub54891

Grub54891

Admiral
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
6,137
As stated, weigh it. I've seen this before. Boat looks good but the foam is saturated and that's alot of weight. Hope it's not the issue. I did one a few years ago at the shop before I retired, The foam was totally gone, heavy stuff. The guy wanted it done so we did it. It was fine when we were done but it was a huge undertaking.
 
R

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,411
----" absolutely beautiful condition "------But it appears to be a " pig with lipstick " in reality.-----Cut the floor out and fix it or take it to landfill.
 
KCKracker

KCKracker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
291
Yes the boat is gorgeous.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250330_194245559_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20250330_194245559_HDR.jpg
    2.8 MB · Views: 25
  • IMG_20250403_082405054_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20250403_082405054_HDR.jpg
    4.8 MB · Views: 25
  • IMG_20250410_192139042.jpg
    IMG_20250410_192139042.jpg
    3.1 MB · Views: 26
A

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,361
Probably fund some rotten wood deep in that hulk when you remove the water logged foam. Being a 1978, it is almost a garentee. Your gonna learn to mess with fiberglass or pay dearly for someone else to do it. Good Luck.
 
R

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,411
Know of a shop with the back lot littered with boats that look good.----All waiting for a date with the grinder / crusher.
 
KCKracker

KCKracker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
291
Yep the proof is in it's definitely waterlogged so I guess I'm ripping a floor out God I hate doing fiberglass work
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,224
floor, stringers, transom, and bulkheads in addition to the foam.... I would uncap it
 
JimS123

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,234
Sounds like this could be a futile effort. 47 year old boats have little monetary value. Rotten boats have no value. Even if you do the work yourself, your end cost will be double the value of the boat.

The pics don't make me warm and fuzzy about gorgeous. But then again I am a boater with 65 years experience. But the engine DOES have value. If you care about economics, I would personally part the boat out and learn from experience.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I would hate to see you spend mega bucks on a lost cause.
 
KCKracker

KCKracker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
291
Okay update
So I drilled It 2 inch test hole towards the back and there is no foam and it is bone dry and full of cobwebs and I found the placard and it says it's rated for Max motor 175 1 and 1500 lb occupancy.
So why the heck is a 300 lb four-stroke waiting it down so far I don't understand it does not have foam and it's not waterlogged it's bone dry and full of cobwebs
 
KCKracker

KCKracker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
291
Okay here's the scenario new boat to me 1978 18 ft fiberform with a 115 I can't find my original post but I dropped it in the water yesterday for the first time and it sits dangerously low in the back end where water is at the top of the transom and I immediately thought the four stroke is too heavy but it was originally rated for a 1500 lb occupancy and a Max of 175 so that we know that the boat is not overloaded
Okay scenario too the foam is waterlogged and the boat is way too heavy so towards the back of the deck on each side I punched a 2-in pilot hole for inspection guess what not a drop of water or foam they're just empty holes or Chambers full of cobwebs.
So now I'm completely stumped I was expecting to find water so answer me this is it lacking buoyancy because there is no foam because I've read that foam is only to keep the boat from sinking if it flips over but it does not lift the boat in the water with buoyancy so yes or no can anyone answer that? If it's just a matter of adding foam I can definitely do that I've done it more than once. Here's two pictures of the transom and I'm standing on the dock there's nobody in the boat. And when I step down into the boat water actually came over the top of the transom. Something is causing this there has to be a solution.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250413_191511743.jpg
    IMG_20250413_191511743.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 21
  • IMG_20250413_191558774_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20250413_191558774_HDR.jpg
    807 KB · Views: 21
JimS123

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,234
Good question.

I guess it needs more clarification. What does water line to the top of the transom mean? (that sounds like the boat is almost sunk)

Next, what about cob webs? There should be foam there. If there is none, then that old boat has been rebuilt before. What did the rebuilder do to the foam and how did he change the balance? (rhetorical)

Obviously, pics would help. Also, proof read your replies....work on grammar and no run-on sentences.
 
bajaman123

bajaman123

Seaman
Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
53
Foam would have no effect whatsoever in the scenario you describe...having foam in the hull doesn't affect the displacement of the water OUTSIDE the hull. Where did you punch the hole at? What does the boat weigh...find some scales and see the results. Rock it hard from side-to-side and see if you hear sloshing. Something seems to have seriously affected the weight distribution in that hull.
 
KCKracker

KCKracker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
291
Boat specs say 1600.
bajaman123 said:
Foam would have no effect whatsoever in the scenario you describe...having foam in the hull doesn't affect the displacement of the water OUTSIDE the hull. Where did you punch the hole at? What does the boat weigh...find some scales and see the results. Rock it hard from side-to-side and see if you hear sloshing. Something seems to have seriously affected the weight distribution in that hull.
Click to expand...
No sloshing. No nothing. Specs say 1600 lbs the under deck is dry cobwebs
 
C

cyclops222

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,962
There is a lot of weight back there. Find it and remove it. We can not help from our computers.
 
arks

arks

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Messages
1,936
The waterline stripe looks to be original and is awfully close to the cutout. Also looks like the motorwell is fairly deep. Maybe that was how they were built back then. Make sure the well is well sealed!
How heavy is the kicker? Does it get on plane easily? If not, I might suggest a pair of tabs.
 
C

cyclops222

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,962
That engine looks HUGE on the back. Somebody tossed any spare engine on the boat and sold it. You buy a boat with no test ride ??
Oh well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top