Help removing Floor...2000 Express

[hsi111]

Anyone ever removed the floor from a 17' 2000 Express? I have cut all the visable welds from around my floor pan and I cant get it out. I have srcewed hooks in different spots around the floor and lifted it with my engine hoist and can lift the boat and trailer off the ground and it won't budge. All the welds are completely cut through. It appears that floor was put in after the rod box and sides because I can see the edge of the floor on all four sides. Any ideas? I need it out to replace water logged foam. This boat sat upside down all summer and the foam still has water in it. See Pics. Thanks

 

[kcassells]

You may have to grind out sections at a time to reveal how and what is still keeping it attached under the deck. Other alternatives like sawsall, cutting torch could be used. A visual to below would let you know how to proceed.
Also ridgid sells a tool/camera scope for @$100.00 bucks. Then you could run that thru a drilled hole and possible see whats keeping it intact.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the foam could be adhered to the bottom of your aluminum panel.

I would plan on replacing the aluminum panel, as you most likely will mangle it getting it out.

 

[kcassells]

True be dat! Great comment Scott.

 

[Woodonglass]

OR it could be the dreaded Foam Suckers. Those pesky little varmits that form when foam in Aluminum Boats get water logged and then they attach themselves to the bottom of the aluminum deck and suck it down tight in anticipation of the owner trying to remove it. They KNOW what's coming and don't want to leave. Only the MINIONS

can remove em. Yeah, you'll have to hire the MINIONS to get down in there and wage WAR on those pesky little foam suckers and get them to release your deck from their terrible hold!!!! They'll prolly have to make a movie about it. You could make MILLIONS!!!! My Grandkids will make me take them to the Gala Grand Opening of the show and buy Popcorn and Sugar Babies!!!

I can't Wait!!!!opcorn:

 

[Scott Danforth]

WOG, how is the eggnog?

 

[hsi111]

LOL Woodonglass. Thanks for all your responses. Like I said, I can screw hooks in the deck and lift the whole boat and trailer and let it hang over night. Nothing budges. If I was not able to see all edges of floor panel, I would rip out rod box and other side. I have a dremal max which is a high speed cutter and I can go around he whole perimiter in 5 mins. Was hoping not to go that far but I guess I may have to. May still have same problem. I dunno, I rescued this old boat from the dead andI was going to do this restoration in a few months and post pics along the way starting last spring but my mother got cancer so I was not able to. Been a little busy. I still have my progress pics and I still want to post them all after all this is done. Thanks again for all your comments. I will let everyone know how bad it ended up. There is a lot of issues with older Xpress Boats with water soaked foam so I am still trying to decide what to do when I get the stuff out. I do know one thing. Something is going back in there. I see many post on the internet that shows advice of not putting anything back in but I really think that is so irreponsible and bad ideas.

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Foam will never have the tensile strength to sustain the weighr of the boat and the trailer. Is it possible that the floor is part of a bigger structure that got inserted inside the hull shell as they do sometimes in fiberglass boats with the deck is built in the cap? If this is true, most likely the floor is supported/welded from underneath as well and the whole structure needs to be lifted as a unit. Just thinking out loud with you here.

 

[hsi111]

DeepBlue. That is exactly what has been on my my mind but it really seems unlikely since I can see where it has been layed in after the rod box and other side. I really can only figure though that there are hidden welds. There has to be. Thats why I was hoping to find someone that has been through tis on this boat.