rotten foam

« **on:** August 31, 2009, 01:28:00 PM »

need opinions. looks like the bulkhead forward is filled with foam?

?? it is all rotted. what do i do about this and how the hell do i get it out?

« **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2009, 04:08:20 PM »

Sheet rock saws - the longer the blade the better. Even a carpenter's hand saw. Jap pull saw for up alongside the hull and the foam.

Use whichever saw seems to work best for you and slice into the foam and make a grid 6"-12" size. As deep as you can. Then take a shovel or flat pry bar and start chopping. It is a balance between keeping the chunks as big and less messy, and making progress. Some places you will just have to make foam dust to get anywhere. Wear a bunny suit no matter what and a respirator.

Just one of the many fun resto tasks of owning an old jetboat!! Yeee Haaaa!

« **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2009, 04:11:26 PM »

Narrow shovel worked reat for me.

-beerjet-

« **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2009, 04:53:19 PM »

do you replace bulkhead foam? what was it for?

« **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2009, 05:08:06 PM »

yeah. do i need to replace it??? and if yes why?

« **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2009, 05:39:06 PM »

Quote from: challenger on August 31, 2009, 04:53:19 PM

do you replace bulkhead foam? what was it for?

no, it was for floatation

« **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2009, 05:49:00 PM »

Quote from: Ralph Brunt on August 31, 2009, 05:39:06 PM

no, it was for floatation

yeah thats whats it's for

« **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2009, 05:54:55 PM »

if it is for floatation, shouldnt i replace it?

« **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:00:01 PM »

Quote from: filterbiz on August 31, 2009, 05:54:55 PM

if it is for floatation, shouldnt i replace it?

Is it rotten all the way through ? maybe just the exterior of the foam is bad?

« **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:12:35 PM »

Quote from: filterbiz on August 31, 2009, 05:54:55 PM

if it is for floatation, shouldnt i replace it?

if you plan on sinking your boat $:-\$
there is better floatation now if you are worried about it

« **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:16:36 PM »

Re: rotten foam
« Reply #9 on: Today at 06:12:35 PM » Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from: filterbiz on Today at 05:54:55 PM
if it is for floatation, shouldnt i replace it?

if you plan on sinking your boat
there is better floatation now if you are worried about it.......-----so whats the better floatation

« **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:21:40 PM »

i knew you were going to ask

ive seen the clear balloons lack of a better term

some use the water weenies or just a plane old inertube.

just a guess, but, the amount of foam that it would take to float your boat would be more that what you probably have.

when i sank my boat it stood bow up long enough for some one to get a rope on it and pull it out. we see it happen all the time at the races

edit: just my opinion, you dont need floatation

« **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2009, 07:23:47 PM »

2500# boat, water weighs 62.4 lbs/ft^3. The math sez you need 40ft^3 of foam to keep it completely afloat after a "sinkage event". However as you start adding foam to a boat, then some of the boat doesn't go under, so then less of the boat is displacing water so...

Chit I dunno - I'd think you need 25 - 30ft^3 in order to keep the bow bobbin out of the water.

« **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2009, 07:42:43 PM »

Quote from: Stevecat on August 31, 2009, 07:23:47 PM

2500# boat, water weighs 62.4 lbs/ft^3. The math sez you need 40ft^3 of foam to keep it completely afloat after a "sinkage event". However as you start adding foam to a boat, then some of the boat doesn't go under, so then less of the boat is displacing water so...

Chit I dunno - I'd think you need 25 - 30ft^3 in order to keep the bow bobbin out of the water.

all that math fuked me up

but sounds like you need a lot of foam

« **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:16:17 PM »

All you have to do for foam is make it slightly lighter than the specific weight of the water, typically for a 2000 # boat, 10cu.ft. will do the trick...Use the two part closed cell foam from like Tap Plastics, I like the 40:1 stuff...I gallon makes 40 gallons worth. I put it in the gunwales and some in the bow, the idea is to let the transom sink first, the bow will hold air on a closed deck deal...

Also a river racer trick, get a float ball like you would use for an anchor and tie it off to 100' of 3/8" nylon rope and leave it in the stern tied to something strong (motor mount), if it does sink, the ball will get to the surface so you can recover the boat

Or..................................... ..............don't sink the boat...

You guys keep laughing, but a big shop vac and a gas powered weed wacker always worked for me to get the old stinky foam out....Takes under an hour and you can go right down to the fiberglass

GT

« **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:25:19 PM »

If this is for that 18' Eliminator, you could probably remove 20% of the flotation you calc out. It wouldn't weigh over 2000 lbs.
The foam was there to meet USCG requirements in boats under 20'. I removed the foam out of mine and replaced it with a tube like the ones you tow the kids on. When were done racing it i'll take the tube out and use the bow for storage.

« **Reply #16 on:** September 02, 2009, 09:50:54 AM »

thanks for the comments. i am going to remove some of it.

« **Reply #17 on:** September 03, 2009, 12:01:21 AM »

Quote from: GT Jets on August 31, 2009, 08:16:17 PM

You guys keep laughing, but a big shop vac and a gas powered weed wacker always worked for me to get the old stinky foam out....Takes under an hour and you can go right down to the fiberglass

GT

God knows I luv ya Glenn but that there is some funny shit!!! Ian and I were rolling on the floor imagining you get-n-after-it with a weedwacker.......

« **Reply #18 on:** September 03, 2009, 12:06:10 AM »

Quote from: jrork on September 03, 2009, 12:01:21 AM

God knows I luv ya Glenn but that there is some funny shit!!! Ian and I were rolling on the floor imagining you get-n-after-it with a weedwacker.......

$:-\$

« **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2009, 02:12:31 AM »

That actually sounds like a great idea! But the mental of it happening? Yeah, priceless!

Gonna actually do that on the Moo this winter on her bow. I think that is the source of some of her handling/planing issues. I'll take pictures though when I do it, lol

Ray

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