Foam removal from Dory

[haulyfryn]

I have a 15foot Dell Quay Dory. The hull has let water into the foam which is now saturated. I have tried drying it out by tipping her up as far as possible and drilling some drain holes into the transom. The boat is still heavy and I can only presume that the water is holding in the foam filling. I am now trying to split the deck from the hull.I have so far cut the bonding between both and expected to be able to lift the deck from the hull. The foam is stuck firmly and I am unable to seperate them. I can see down the side of the hull but the foam filling is stuck firm below that point. Is there anything I can use to disolve the foam without damaging the fibreglass.
I have also tried tipping the boat over completely and lifting the hull from the deck this has also failed. My intension is to remove the foam and reinforce the hull from inside.
Can someone help?

 

[Papaweeezz]

Re: Foam removal from Dory

My '73 Bomber Raider is probably similarly constructed. I just started its restoration and had hoped that I could separate the interior liner/deck from the outside hull (with foam sandwiched in between). I ended up cutting out the liner/deck and found that the manufacturer had laid out 1/2" plywood on the stringers then injected structural foam beneath that layer of plywood. They then laid in the fiberglass liner/deck and must have used a resin to bond the liner to the plywood. Without cutting out the deck, there is no way that I could have separated the the entire interior deck (intact) from the hull. But at least know I can get to removing the saturated foam and begin the rebuild of the transom, stringers, and deck. Good Luck!

 

[berry79]

Re: Foam removal from Dory

I don't think there is any way to dissolve the foam. You're just going to have to get in there and chip and shovel and any other way to scrape it all out. I used a spade shovel to work most of my foam up. Don't even waste your time drying it out, it will not happen. Good luck and let the fun begin.

 

[haulyfryn]

Re: Foam removal from Dory

Thanks for your info. Much appreciated. Will let you know how I get on.

 

[Pelican Dan]

How did or did you ever separate the hull from the deck?

 

[GA_Boater]

How did or did you ever separate the hull from the deck?

After 12+ years, the boat is probably in a landfill now.