waterlogged...can i still use it!

[john neves]

i purchased my 19 ft celebrity bow rider last year...it has a 5.0 mercruiser in it and runs very well with a max speed of 42mph and the mechanic told me that he cant really do anything to make it go faster...the interior looks very well and just 2 little soft spots that prolly caused the foam to be waterlogged....now my question is how much heavier can waterlogged foam really make the boat weigh more and if its ok to continue using the boat knowing its waterlogged???

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

Welcome to iBoats!!

Depending on the quantity of foam in the boat it could be up to 1,000 lbs Consider this Water weighs approx 8.35 lbs per gallon. The foam in a boat that size could easily have absorbed 100 gallons or more of water over time. And all that water below decks will eventually rot the superstructure of your boat and cause Major Damage, IF it hasn't already. I'd fix it ASAP if I were you.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

It's quite suprising just how much water weight they will hold. I've gain several MPH on restores from getting rid of the water soaked foam. Keep in mind too if the foam is waterlogged most likely you'll have some rotten wood in places in not all over.

In answer to your post question of "Can I use it", really depends on how much rot there is, if it's not too bad, then you may can get by running it. There are tons of them out there with rotten wood and running wide open (they just don't know it). So when does it become unsafe? Well that's a million dollar question, that really has never been answered, since no one can really say for sure.

Personally, if the transom checks out okay and the stringers are so so, then yeah you're probably okay, but we are very saftey orinented here so all I can say is make your own call there.

 

[john neves]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

thanx..i was just trying to avoid ripping the boat apart...ive spent tons of money on it recently..installing a new fuel pump...rebuilt carberator....new bellows...and just finding out that its water logged really stinks because the floor seems really solid in almost most spots and the carpet and seats are in mint shape...just hate to rip everything out...boat only has 200 hours

 

[john neves]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

how do i check if the stringers and transome are okay??

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

You will need to gain access to below deck. Either via Ski Locker or Engine compartment or by cutting holes in the deck. Same for the Transom. Use a 3/8" drill and 3/8" drill bit and drill into the stringers and Transom. DO NOT DRILL all the way thru the Transom. Powdery or Dark Wet shavings is BAD. Light Brown Dry shavings means your good to go. If they're good to go, use 3M 5200 to fill the holes. On the transom drill as low as you can get and then about 4 - 6 inches up from the bottom and in various locations.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

how do i check if the stringers and transome are okay??

Transom can be done with some simple holes drilled into it. Take a 3/8" bit and put a stop collar ( to keep it from going all the way thru) set it about 3/4 of the transom thickness. Test a place or two high and a place or two low....wood chips should dry, if wet or mushy, then you have a rotten transom.

Your stringers can be done the same way but, of course, you have to get to them. If your taking up the deck in places you can check the stringers then.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

Oh by the way...if the test holes are okay just seal the holes back with some thicken resin or some 3M 5200 sealant.

 

[john neves]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

thanks

 

[solar7647]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

There's a big difference between probably water logged and waterlogged. Are you sure it is, or did the mechanic say it probably is. I really don't know any way to check that without ripping up the floor and checking it.

There are ways to figure out if your getting the right speed or not. Thy this site.
http://www.rbbi.com/folders/prop/propcalc.htm

 

[john neves]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

well the mechanic oringinally said it was water logged from the seat cushions being heavy...then i did re search on being water logged...i just came inside from working on the boat and noticed one soft spot underneath the passenger seat....so i pulled it off and drilled a 2 inch hole saw through the floor and i saw the foam was soaked...so i pulled up more carpet and didnt really see to much other plywood rotted out...but if the port side of the boat was saturated with water in the foam it would lean to that side in the water right??? seems pretty level in the water...i think my biggest thing to do is to get a new cover because mine has a few tears in it and is letting water in while days it rains and if i can stop that and fix where the wood is rotted i should be okay hopefully??

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

I think Mark Twain said it....

"Denial ain't just a River in Egypt!"

 

[solar7647]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

well the mechanic oringinally said it was water logged from the seat cushions being heavy...then i did re search on being water logged...i just came inside from working on the boat and noticed one soft spot underneath the passenger seat....so i pulled it off and drilled a 2 inch hole saw through the floor and i saw the foam was soaked...so i pulled up more carpet and didnt really see to much other plywood rotted out...but if the port side of the boat was saturated with water in the foam it would lean to that side in the water right??? seems pretty level in the water...i think my biggest thing to do is to get a new cover because mine has a few tears in it and is letting water in while days it rains and if i can stop that and fix where the wood is rotted i should be okay hopefully??

If one spot is soaked then good chance the rest is, and the floor is probably rotting from the bottom, sounds like a new deck, foam and stringers are in store. Looking at the wood covered in fiberglass really dosnt tell you much. That very top layer of the ply is soaked with resin and keeps the light tan color even if the wood under it is rotted.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

To see if it's waterloged, put the boat in the water and go get your trailer weighed, than put the boat on the trailer and get a weight. Than find the weight your boat is supposed to be and compare it to the boat and trailer weight taking the weight of the trailer into consideration. If the weight is way off, prolly a good indication that it's logged.

Art

 

[jonesg]

Re: waterlogged...can i still use it!

Its waterlogged, you already know it, you've seen it.
The longer you wait the more damage it will do...then you will be doing a transom too.