Re: 1989 Basstracker Does it have Foam???????
One of the nice things about tin boats, one of the reasons I currently own one, is the lack of wood in the construction. Other thing is that tin, unlike glass isn't adaptable to drilling holes in decks and stuffing in a foam nozzle and filling it till it squirts out then glassing over the hole. I realize that newer boat builders have phased wood out of their lineups and I applaud them for that. Problem with a used boat is did it make the change or did that mfgr. change later and if so, what changed....stringers, decks, transom, seat mounts?
Styrofoam is a closed cell (white coffee cups) foam that adapts well to boat floatation. On an alum boat (skiff), before the seat is installed in the boat, a chamber that is fitted beneath the seat is filled with foam (styrofoam sheets work well) and installed under the seat prior to the seat being installed. My current boat is a bass boat with raised decks and was built in '00, has no wood, but has blown in foam under the decks. This is the type that that can absorb water if submerged. Course common sense would tend to tell one that if it got in, it should be able to get out of you establish a drain posture allowing it to do so and maybe sit it out in the hot sun to aid in evaporation. Only question is how much water did it absorb and how long will it take for it to drain out.
I rebuilt a '65 Starcraft 18' Holiday I/O back in the late 80's that had styrofoam sheets under the deck. I stripped it down to the bare hull including removal and replacement of the plywood transom (lining the inside of the alum transom sheet that ran across the entire transom and was riveted to the sides and bottom.
Definitely foam absorption was an initial concern of mine as the boat had been partially submerged for over 6 months in a marina. To my delight, the foam was totally intact although there was some surface mildew and dirt. I reused the entire lot of it and didn't have to buy new......Sooooo foam doesn't necessarily absorb water....just depends upon the type and exposure.
Just because you had a couple of rivets leaking, you have to attempt to determine just how much water had the opportunity to contact your foam and how much of it.....a water line indicating the maximum height of the water would surely help. Also, if you were in a position to be able to press something against the exposed foam looking for the presence of water this would aid you also. If you press against it, if it has water in it, you should get some to come out where you are pushing.....or you could just weigh the boat, but this is easier said than done.
Mark
