replacing part of floor, slightly wet foam

[markheck1]

Had a soft spot at rear port side of boat, decided to peel the carpet back and see how bad, first mistake, LOL
Anyway, the cracked glass and rotted wood came up too, tore out about a six foot section, found a seam in the ply about 6 inches in front of the rear bulkhead. It looks like that's where the water got in. Stringers look and feel good, Foam all looks and feels nice and dry.
I decided to cut forward until I found solid floor, problem is as I worked my way forward about 6 inches and removed foam to allow inserting a plywood joiner to attach to existing floor to the new patch I noticed the very bottom of the foam was a bit damp. I was only about 1/4 inch from the hull
I'm just wondering if is an indication of a problem with the hull, or if any water that gets in naturally goes to the bottom of the foam, Thanks in Advance!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: replacing part of floor, slightly wet foam

check the stringers. I bet you have wet or rotted wood in the stringers.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: replacing part of floor, slightly wet foam

It was my experience that if there is any water in the foam it settles to the bottom layers. My understanding is that it takes a long time for water to saturate the foam. So if there is any wood exposed, it will be worse off than the foam looks. Tried and true methods to check are to drill some exploratory holes, just into the wood of the stringers and transom. As low as you can get without risking hitting the hull. If the shavings are wet and or dark brown...you got water in them...if they are light colored and dry you are good. The guys here also suggest using a piece of PVC tubing with serrated cuts, like teeth...to use the way you would a tube to cut glass pane..if you have ever done that...basically just drilling a core sample in the foam...get down against the hull see if the foam is wet. But from what you said it is wet already.