Ok how do I do this,

[JGREGORY]

Runabout renovation and some of the people here talk about keeping their bilge channel open. That would be fine except in my 16.5 Wellcraft I have a center stringer, as soon as I foam it it's going to close the channel. I Thought about cutting a large piece of PVC pipe in 1/2 length wise and lying it on the floor. Do I need to worry about doing this or can I just fill up the entire area with foam or should I consider partitioning the area and leaving the small space along the bottom free of foam? I suppose I could frame out on either side of the center stringer and run another piece of plywood laterally to the outside stringers leaving a 2" gap for water to travel. Anybody have any thought on this matter.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Ok how do I do this,

If your floor is sealed good you should never get water under the floor, where most people have trouble with this is storing out side and rain standing in hull, if the boat was designed with foam there replace it, it will support the hull and the floor, unless you have a leak I wouldn't worry about it. My floor isn't sealed (aluminum boat) so I have to keep a chanel open to the rear but with a glass boat don't worry about it.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Ok how do I do this,

water,, no matter how sealed anythin' is ,, still finds it way in... an usually around things you think are sealed.. <br /><br />this is what i'd do... an i wrote about this numerous times, here..<br /><br />leave a channel or cut one if you may ( in-the- floatation-foam i mean ).. get some owens corning pink 1/8 inch thick sheet foam at home center..<br /><br />cut foam to fit in channel ,,to lay on the hull.. <br /><br />THEN CUT SAID FOAM IN HALF,, lenght wise..<br /><br />now lay the 2 halves/pieces back in place.. cut egde mating with stra8 factory edge..<br /><br />the 'cut' should be free hand an an wavey..<br /><br />then tape wavy cut gap with CHEAP MASKING tape.. <br /><br />then 2-part foam on top of that..<br /><br />the reason for this madness is so any water that does get in will find it's way thru the cheap tape ,down into the gap an out to bilge..<br /><br />an you still have the foam an rigidity of the foam .. nothin' still compromised

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: Ok how do I do this,

Thanks Crab Bait, I printed your suggestion at that is probably what I'll Do.<br /><br />Bass Runner thanks for the suggestion and I thought about saying Bleep it and just foam the whole think up, And here comes the BUT, There is almost always condensation that occures. That water would need to drain somewhere. That was why I posted the question.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Ok how do I do this,

The problem I have with crab bait's method is you really lose the rigidity of the 2 part foam because it is not attached to the hull, but is stuck to the foam siding insulation, So you have one or two massive chunks of foam that are not attached to the bottom except to the stringers. Plus the entire underside of the foam board will turn into a fungus and slimy mold farm after time. I like the idea of a couple center channels made from a piece of PVC cut lenghtwise in half and laid down prior to the foam. Glue it down every couple feet to keep the foam from seeping into it. Just another idea. There's more than one way to skin a cat!!

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: Ok how do I do this,

Quantum, That was Why I mentioned the PVC the only problem I came across with that Idea was getting the water to get into the pipe. I may combine Crab baits Idea of the cheap masking tape with the pipe glassed in in spots to solve the problem.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Ok how do I do this,

That should work well. I see how crab baits method would work well at drainage, but I don't think you need that much of a surface area void. It would keep the 2 part from sitting in any water in the bottom of the hull though. Maybe a couple strips of the foamboard about six or eight inches wide running lengthwise along the centerline wouldn't be a bad idea?? I would want it raised up off the hull a quarter-inch or so so it could dry out a bit with the plug out.