Question on foam

[1badbrd]

Some of my foam seems to be wet. ONLY the surface. I cut 1/8" off the top and its dry but only the top of wet. Will it dry and then do i have to worry about it causing trouble or should i cut off the wet areas.

What should i do about wet foam.

I'm learing as i go so i ask questions. The posts i read were more foam SOAKED. Mine isnt soaked all the way through more surface.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question on foam

All wet foam should be removed. If all you have is wet foam on top..then remove just that.

Just make sure the bottom of the foam is not wet.

YD.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Question on foam

Have you checked the foam all the way through? Where is this foam? Are you doing a rebuild? There are literally thousands of boats out there with wet foam that have lasted 30 to 40 years, some longer. Wet foam is not always the end of the world! I see no reason to have to cut an 1/8 inch of foam off because its wet.

 

[1badbrd]

Re: Question on foam

well to be honest i'm rebuilding what i see damaged. This is my first boat and only looking to get 5 good years out of it. The center of the floor just infront of the engine and just above the fuel tank was wasted as i exposed the area i followed it out as far as i noticed damaged wood of any sign. As i when from center to the side of the boat i uncovered the foam. As i chipped the wood away i chip some foam and noticed the foam isnt wet in the body just surface. NOW is the foam wet on the underside..... ? dont know and dont know how to look for it besides taking the foam out (dont want to if i dont have to). Now if its minimal wettness on the underside and wont kill me then i'm okay with it.

I have a fan and absorbant material on it now and will let it soak up and dry for the next couple of days and see if it is enought before continuing rebuidling the floor.

I just didnt know if some wettness is safe. Thank you

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question on foam

Is there a place you can weigh your boat and get the specs on it ?

Basically .. you can take your trailer to a station .. weigh it .. load the boat Dry and re-weigh. subtract the weight of the trailer and get how much your boat ITSELF weighs..

You should know how much your boat weighs dry ..

If its loading at lets say 80 lbs more.. then you basically have 10 gals of water in your boat. Time to find out why.

YD.

 

[1badbrd]

Re: Question on foam

good idea. now how much does fuel weight per gallon?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Question on foam

Your wetness may just be condensation in the bilge.

Take a core sample and post some pics of your foam so we can see what kind you have.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Question on foam

'bout 6.34 pounds I believe.

Fuel weight per gal.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Question on foam

Gasoline can be anything from about 6.0 to 6.4 pounds per gallon, and deisel is around 7.1 per gallon. The core samples are a good idea actually. You can take a peice of pvc pipe and make a jagged edge on one end and use it yo drill into the foam in a few areas to check if it is wet. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy way with alot of this rebuild stuff. Your really not going to be able to tell wether the foam is wet at the bottom unless you check it. Foam can and will continue to soak up water for years until it is saturated if water has had access to the foam. . Some areas may be dry as a bone. It simply all depends on how much water intrusion the boat has seen from leaking deck hardware, bad cover seals, cracks, bad caulking etc etc. Its going to be different for every boat and every rebuild.

You have to weight the expense of refoaming and what you are trying to acheive. Is the boat worth putting a complete rebuild to it? While you have the deck tore out, do you really want to leave it half azz by not pulling all the foam to check?? Its a descision the boat owner who is doing the rebuild really has to make for himself. Good luck with your project.

good idea. now how much does fuel weight per gallon?

 

[1badbrd]

Re: Question on foam

Forgive my ignorance but how do you have a core sample.

Well not knowing how much foam is and how to propelly replace. It sounds like spending time and manual power to remove it would be worth it. I know there is a board the runs from side to side that seperates the fuel tank compartment and the engine compartment that could use replacing. Of course the foam is on either side of the board so.... Maybe cut a couple inchesof foam near the rottne board and that way i can check the bottom of the foam and replace the board.

What type of foam is it and where can i look for it...

Thanks in advance

 

[zopperman]

Re: Question on foam

Ignorance is why we have these forums

chriscraft254 pointed you in teh right direction. Use a modified piece of PVC to test all the way through the foam

by board do you mean a rotted stringer? A beam that goes fore-aft supporting your deck?

DOes your deck have soft spots? can we get some pics please?

 

[produceguy]

Re: Question on foam

The core sample would be in the piece of pvc after inserting it into the foam.
You might have 2 part foam wich is what the MF uses. Alot of guys just use the blue insulation foam from HD or Lowes to replace it. It comes in sheets and you just cut it , costs about 5$ a sheet.

 

[a1999ponyboy]

Re: Question on foam

i was under the impression that the foam added structural rigidity also? so if you use the blue stuff form hd how does that work?

 

[produceguy]

Re: Question on foam

i was under the impression that the foam added structural rigidity also? so if you use the blue stuff form hd how does that work?

Yes, in some hulls the 2 part foam adds structural strenght, in some hulls it's mostly for flotation. If you don't know what you have,you could call the MF and ask.
I suggested the blue foam under the impression he will only replace the section by the bulkhead. It would be fine for him to do so.

 

[a1999ponyboy]

Re: Question on foam

not to steal the thread but i have a raven and i dont think they are in business any more so how would i know if mine is structural?

 

[1badbrd]

Re: Question on foam

thank you all for the help.

Here is some photos of my mess. The more i getting the aft section the more i'm getting scared i need to do a lot more. I dont want to invest that much time and $ to get it 100% rebuilt. This is going to be my starter boat so i only plan on keeping her for about 5 years or so. I just want to stop the major progression of rotting.

I want to cut away as much as i feel comforatble replacing but as i get more aft were there is the engine and stern drive. I'm not prepared to take those parts out and tear out the wood. so..... I'm a little scared and admit i will stop at one point knowing there is a little more wood that needs to be removed but...

Not sure how detailed i need to post for more help but here is a start

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/Dearmosd/IMG_2005.jpg

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/Dearmosd/IMG_2007.jpg

I'm curious how terrible would it be to on the areas i'm not comforatble getting to but atleast expose the wood let it dry out as much as possible and start replacing the wood i feel comfortable with and start fiberglassing.

Should carpet stay wet for day and days? I'm replacing the carpet but question to eirther replace all the carpet or expoy the floor and place carpet in certain areas with snaps to the floor. that way no standing water and can take the carpet out to dry easier

 

[zopperman]

Re: Question on foam

Bud, there isn't really a safe middle ground... why don't you take soem core samples of your stringers and transom and see where we stand... 3/8" drill bit, drill through inner skin of trans, don't go all the wya through... assess shavings... tan and dry = good. wet and dark = bad. drill a few test holes is various spots... same for stringers. It really makes sense to go all the way if you like the boat. oterwise it will not be safe and you should start saving up for you next boat. ANd pulling the engine isn't as hard as you think, I promise.

 

[1badbrd]

Re: Question on foam

well on the side next to the engine all the way back to the tilt motor. It was tan and wet. The stringer next to the engine bay was dark and wet on top and 1/4" down wasa tan and wet. I'm affraid the transom will be atleast tan and wet also. I question what parts are fiberglass and what parts are wood wrapped in fiberglass.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Question on foam

I agree with YD remove all wet foam. I would also suggest that any foam that the surface skin is removed seal it. It will absorb moisture easier after the skin is gone.

Good luck and have fun

Bob

 

[1badbrd]

Re: Question on foam

seal the foam as in how. Also what foam o have removed what type of foam do i use to replace it. It looks like some kind of expanding foam.