Why is my foam not wet ?

[Restoration man]

Hi there I've got 1989 searay 230cc with a rot problem at the stern of the boat after findin the rot and doing some diging I've found that all the foam is bone dry even right next to the most affected and wettest part, all it seems to have done is wet the surface of the foam and at worsted 1 or 2 mm of wetness if the dig past the rot it's all bone dry I think this has helped to save a lot of the rest of the wood ,

but why is it that my foam is dry. when most of the posts I see on here people are removing water logged foam ?
Has my boat got a better type of foam in it ?
And what is the new type of foam like that I will have to replace it with ? Will that be as waterproof ?

Ps judging by the State of the rot this has been wet for years ive owed the boat for ten years and I suspected it years ago but was denial about it stupid I know but reading on this forum gave the confidence to start to get it fixed ,

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

My comments about the foam . . .

Rot in a fiberglass/wood structure will migrated through the wood, based on the available moisture, etc. The resin/fiberglass will tend to isolate the rot & related moisture and keep it within the wood.

Many of the boats that have saturated foam have been exposed to the weather and the wood floors have rotted, allowing the 'foam bays' to fill with water. Over time and through freezing and unfreezing many of the closed cells have broken down and the foam has absorbed the water and retained it.

So, your boat probably was not exposed to any significant amount of weather, and I assume that you may have a fiberglass floor, since it is a center console? These 2 factors would avoid flooding of the foam compartments within the structure.

Your situation is more likely that the moisture & related rot has migrated through the wood structure, much like a spot of water absorbs in a paper towel. The challenge will be to figure out how far things have gone and what the extend of the repair needs to be.

Post some pictures as you go.

 

[Restoration man]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

Here is my boat not sure if this picture is going to show on the screen

http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Restorationman/Searay 230cc/

 

[Restoration man]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

Why is the picture not showing up ? Using photo bucket and an iPad ?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

Copy the image tag and paste it into your message.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

also, your photobucket album is set to 'private'

 

[Restoration man]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

Here is the boat searay 230 cuddy cabin Hope this works this time

[/IMG]

 

[Restoration man]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

Only the rear 3 foot of the stingers are shot the rest is dry as a bone I think the water got in at a crack at the junction between the bulkhead and the stinger the engine mounts are gone as well if you look at the one picture you can see the stinger is ok in front of the bulkhead as the fibreglass is clear and you can see where the rot goes to I've also drilled them to check an d it's dr as a bone

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Why is my foam not wet ?

Cuddy cabin . . . and I was saying Center Console (for 'CC') my bad . . .

Looks like you are starting to 'dig' into this project. The pictures look good.