Yet another waterlogged foam question

[mike64]

Hi,

Reading posts about waterlogged foam are starting to concern me. I just bought a '71 Saf-T-Mate with a '71 60HP Johnson engine. Just about ready to get her in the water after doing some cosmetic work. The floor and transom are rock solid, and the boat was well cared for, apparently stored indoors in winter.

The only reason I started to worry about waterlogged foam is I can see from old waterline marking on the hull it looks like the boat sat kind of low in the water. When it was weighed, boat, trailer (Pamco, same age as boat I think) and motor weighed 1500 lbs. even. Does this sound in the right ballpark? Did '71 Saf-T-Mates even have foam?

 

[mike64]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

Forgot to mention, it's a 16 footer.

 

[i386]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

Easy way to find out...

Cut a plug out of the deck with a hole saw bit. Try not to cut your plug in the top of a stringer or other brace. Sharpen some "teeth" into the end of a piece of PVC, screw it into the foam down to the hull and pull out a core sample. If it's dry just pack it all back in there and repair with 5200. If it's wet, go ahead and start a new thread.

Seriously though, that's pretty much the standard test given here for checking foam for water.

 

[mike64]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

Thanks, i386. I did read about that test. I also read in one post where Tashasdaddy said he only did that if he was 70% certain he had that problem. I'm nowhere near that certain, I'm just a new owner of an old boat getting jitters before I get a chance to get her out on the water.

Best I can figure, a 16' glass boat is generally 800-900 lbs. Add 2-300 for the motor and 3-400 for the trailer and 1500 lbs. all together should be about expected(?) That, plus solid floor and transom and I'm thinking I probably don't have anything to worry about(?)

 

[i386]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

I hear ya. Check every bolt and thru-hull fitting. If you have transom mounted transom transducers make sure the screws are bedded with 5200 and not sillycone. Just a few preventative steps like that can save you loads of trouble in the future.

If you do find any trouble spots make a note of it.

 

[mike64]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

Will do, i386. Hey, here's a noob question-- what exactly is a transom transducer? Googling gives me pics and transducers for sale but can't find a definition. Some kind of depth gauge or fishfinder?

 

[i386]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

Will do, i386. Hey, here's a noob question-- what exactly is a transom transducer? Googling gives me pics and transducers for sale but can't find a definition. Some kind of depth gauge or fishfinder?

Yea, it's sensor that sends the data to your fish finder or depth guage. Mine looks like this one:

People, not knowing any better will often screw these to the transom and either not bed the screws properly or even use silicone. Silicone will not hold up for long and after a spell this cool new toy becomes the source of a rotten transom.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

it is a tranducer for a depth finder, mount on the transom. many are mounted, and when the boat is sold, the owner takes them off. i say seal them with 3m4200, 5200 is 99.9% permanent.

put the boat in the water, if you feel it is sitting low, then cut the hole. for peace of mind you could cut the hole and install one of these. seal the frame with 3m 4200.

http://www.iboats.com/Seadog_Watert...09063078--**********.943893550--view_id.39787

 

[mike64]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

Thanks Tashasdaddy. How would I make sure to avoid hitting a stringer if/when I do drill into the floor? I'm thinking, drill an exploratory with a small bit and if it punches through after an inch or so, I'm good to go ahead with the saw bit. maybe a couple exploratory bores 2" apart. Would that work?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

holes 1/2 inch apart, some stringers are only 3/4 of an inch.

 

[mike64]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

I made a couple exploratory holes under one of the seats with my smallest diameter drill bit. Found a stringer and marked it. I took a straightened out wire hanger and put it down through the holes, and noticed something odd. Where there's not a stringer the wire goes all the way down about 4" until it taps the hull, with no resistance whatsoever. Is there a possibility there's no foam down there? I though most boats after '65 had foam.

The wood shavings from the drill bit were dry and not rotted at all where I drilled holes under the seat. There is a spot in the rear stern where the battery sat that I noticed the fiberglass has pulled away from the floor a bit. The floor itself doesn't feel soft, but drilling a test hole in that area, the wood shavings seem a little "punky". There are several holes drilled back there where battery mounts were repositioned that never got filled in, so looks like moisture got in that way. I'm hoping the water intrusion is minor, because I don't want a major project just before boating season.

Filled all holes I found with 5200, and will try to get her in the water next weekend. Yesterday (Sunday) would have been a great day to take her out for the first time, but being our anniversary, I don't think my wife would have appreciated it (women can be so unreasonable) I don't want to start drilling 2" holes in the deck to really see what's underneath until I see how she sits and handles in water, per Tashasdaddy recommendation. I did get the motor started on Saturday, and she runs like a champ.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Yet another waterlogged foam question

your are on the right track.