foam removal

[evinrude dude]

I am a first time boater so go easy on me. I have an 89 tracker panfish model bass boat. there are 2 strips about 10" wide down either side of the boat (between the carpeted interior and the outside alum.) This is filled with what appears to be expanding foam type material. I would like to cut the top and remove some of this to create 2 rod lockers. I have seen (pictures only) of the newer model panfish that utilize this space as rod lockers, but haven't gotten up close to one to see if any other modifications are done. Is this a safe practice. I appreciate your patience and expertice with rookies as myself.

 

[ob1jeeper]

Re: foam removal

dude,<br />Welcome to the forum... Those pieces of foam are there for your safety. IF the boat would become swamped for any reason, they are there to provide some amount of buoancy, to keep the boat riding near the surface of the water, rather than quickly sinking to the bottom. (Provided of course that you do not have it too heavily loaded with gear, etc...)<br /><br />Why not simply mount a couple of 2.5 -to- 4" diameter thin-wall (light weight & cheap from most any home hardware center) PVC pipes to some location along the gunwale, to which you can slide the rods into without snagging on something else. At the reel end, simply place a velcro loop (or small bungee, or ???) to secure around the back side of the reel or handle, so the rod does not slip out when underway or being trailered.<br /><br />Diameter of PVC will depend on rod sizes... The rod-holer tubes I added to my boat are 2.5"...<br /><br />This will keep the rods and lures from becoming a tangled mess,and will protect them from being accidently trampled underfoot...<br /><br />Good Luck, Obiwan

 

[evinrude dude]

Re: foam removal

Thanks for the reply obiwan. I do understand the purpose of thr foam. It is equipt with velcro on top of there to hold rods. My situation is I do not like having the rods on there when I travel. I am always parnoid when I stop for a bite etc. while towing about having the rods stolen. the tackle boxes are easy enough to stow in the truck. Also when I stay at a lodge and my boat is sitting at a dock it would be nice to throw the rods in there and lock em up. Oh well I guess thats why every one I talk with that has a boat is always talking about getting a new one with more bells and whistles.

 

[ob1jeeper]

Re: foam removal

dude,<br />I understand completely your concern... Is there any room anywhere on the boat to mount PVC tubes large enough to hold the rod & reel (4 or 5" dia)? If so, simply add a couple of them (abviously secured to the hull, in a manner that would make them difficult to remove), then put a cap over the ends, that requires a small lock hasp to be removed to access.<br /><br />If there is no room for something like this in your boat, perhaps, make a similar "tube rack" to fit in the bed of your truck? If it looks like simple PCV, and isn't too fancy, most folks won't even give it a 2nd look.<br /><br />OR... instead of using velcro to hold the rods from sliding out of the 2 1/2" tube (like I first suggested... or like you have now...) You could probably attach a short section of vinyl coated chain to the hull, through which you could slip a lock, to keep the rods from "disappearing" ??<br /><br />Just trying to help... On my boat, the gunwales sit high enough so that anyone looking to get rods, would have to climb into the boat to find them first... I believe most "thieves" are too lazy to do this (or are afraid of being seen/caught standing high up in a boat such as that...)<br /><br />Good Luck, Obiwan

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: foam removal

Perhaps you could find another place on the boat to install an equal or greater amount of flotation than you would remove from the sides?