storage space - taking foam out

[captn-tin]

I recently bought a 1991 16' wide body Westcoaster. I would like to cut into the bench seats, remove foam ( not all of it), and fit it with tackle storage boxes etc. I would hinge the piece of the bench seat I cut out and screw it back in place. Question...would I be sacrificing saftey for storage? Is this even legal to do? Thanks in advance.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: storage space - taking foam out

Well, removing the foam lowers the flotation properties of the boat. Should you swamp it or develop a serious leak, the boat could sink, rather than stay afloat, as it's designed to do.

That would stop me from removing foam, frankly. I'd love to have storage in my little aluminum boat, but I'm not willing to lose the safety of the flotation.

What I did do, though, was to build boxed in sections along one side of the boat, between the bench seats. They're 9 1/2" wide, and level with the seats, running from the back seat clear to the front. On the inside edge of each shelf, I added another board, that reaches down to the hull and hinged parts of each shelf. I can't put tackle boxes in those storage compartments, but other stuff fits in there.

The big advantage to this is that I can put my tackle boxes on the shelf and get them off the floor. I also built a retainer for the gas tank on top of the shelf, just in front of the center seat...getting it off the floor of the boat, too. It's made a world of difference for me, and redistributed some weight, too.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: storage space - taking foam out

Well, removing the foam lowers the flotation properties of the boat. Should you swamp it or develop a serious leak, the boat could sink, rather than stay afloat, as it's designed to do.

That would stop me from removing foam, frankly. I'd love to have storage in my little aluminum boat, but I'm not willing to lose the safety of the flotation.

What I did do, though, was to build boxed in sections along one side of the boat, between the bench seats. They're 9 1/2" wide, and level with the seats, running from the back seat clear to the front. On the inside edge of each shelf, I added another board, that reaches down to the hull and hinged parts of each shelf. I can't put tackle boxes in those storage compartments, but other stuff fits in there.

The big advantage to this is that I can put my tackle boxes on the shelf and get them off the floor. I also built a retainer for the gas tank on top of the shelf, just in front of the center seat...getting it off the floor of the boat, too. It's made a world of difference for me, and redistributed some weight, too.

Ya mind adding a picture of that CATransplant?

 

[captn-tin]

Re: storage space - taking foam out

Thanks for the info on the foam removal. I think I knew the answer as to the saftey issue. Although I did not plan to remove all the foam I'm sure the original amount of foam is calculated by the designers. Now I'll start looking at other storage options. Thanks for the responses.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: storage space - taking foam out

Go ahead...just shove some more up in the bow somewhere.
THE ONLY REASON FOR FOAM IS TO KEEP SOME PART OF THE BOAT ABOVE WATER SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HANG ONTO...'TILL HELP COMES.