to foam or not to foam

[mooma]

I have been researching on-line and am somewhat confused on whether to replace the foam in my boat floor. I have a 94 Wellcraft Eclipse 196S I/O and the floor was a little too soft for my liking, so we decided to rip it out and replace it. After we removed the rotted floor, we found the foam to be totally saturated and it didn't appear to have any way of drying out. We removed most of it and now the question is, do we replace it with 2 part foam?, do we put noodles in the cavities, do we foam around the noodles? do we dry out the foam we took out and put it back? just what do we do. I have read several threads that say we don't need it, and several that say we do need it.

I realize that to some of you, this is probably like beating a dead horse, but to me - it is important to get the correct answer. So, your advise is certainly appreciated.

thanks so much
debbie

 

[erikgreen]

Re: to foam or not to foam

I'm not a lawyer, but what the coast guard regs say (from what I can read) is that for an under 20 foot boat you're supposed to have it in to legally sell the boat... so it's legal to remove and not use it if you own the boat, but you'd have to put it back in to sell it.

Some people like to use bottles, noodles, etc to save money or avoid waterlogging followed by rot. The "OEM" way to do things is to use a pourable floatation foam to fill your underdeck spaces.

Erik

 

[Robj]

Re: to foam or not to foam

I also own a Wellcraft, 18 foot bowrider, and the whole structure was rotten, stringers, floor, and transom and the foam saturated. I think part of the problem was lowsy workmanship when it was built. I plan on replacing the old foam with two part foam. One thing that I noticed, was when the floor was fastened to the stringers, it was not sealed. Water splashing from the bilge area can enter the foamed area. One thing I will be doing is using 5200 to glue the floor to the stringers and then screw it down with SS screws. Hopefully this will prevent the foam getting saturated again. Don't really want pop bottles down there, plus the foam does add structural support to the hull. Unsure if the structural support that the foam provides has been included in the design of the hull. i.e. the foam is required as it is part of the structure?? Don't know.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Bondo]

Re: to foam or not to foam

Hopefully this will prevent the foam getting saturated again.

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If is Not the Question,........... It's When...............