Foam in aluminum boats

gatorglenn · September 12, 2016, 04:29:36 PM

Anyone have any trouble with waterlog foam in a boat that is say less than 10 years old. Talking about the flotation foam,thanks

Lipripper · September 12, 2016, 05:14:20 PM

Hello and welcome to Ultimate Bass. I don't have a boat but I'm sure some of the other members will be able to help you out. In the mean time would you stop by here and introduce yourself to everyone.
Let Us Get To Know You

Bigwrench · September 12, 2016, 07:08:18 PM

Haven't in a boat that's less than 10 years , but I sure got my fill of it with my old tin rig restore . It's a chore for sure getting it out . I guess if it was mine I would strip it down to the hull , perform a leak test to pinpoint the leak , clean the hull really good and rebuck any rivets that the test shows and then coat the inside at the very least with the amazing goop product I used on mine. I did the inside and outside of mine and that stuff seems indestructible with Kevlar fibers. Still working on mine right now but that's what I would do. Leaving that saturated foam in there is going to cause major draft issues and hole shot/performance problems. It's hard to imagine but once that stuff is saturated it's extremely heavy

PD Fisher · September 12, 2016, 07:13:07 PM

I did. I removed mine. Lost about 300 lbs of excess weight.

Use a power washer with the oscillating head. It's messy but chews up that foam in minutes.

Way better performance now.

Kris · September 12, 2016, 08:54:48 PM

I had purchased an aluminum boat that someone had redone into a high deck bass boat with remote steer. I didn't like the way it was put together and stripped it out to the bare hull. Under the floor I had found where a previous owner had used "pink" insulation for floatation which is open cell foam and absorbs water. Boat was left outside for several years with no cover.
My neighbor and I tried to lift the stern of the boat off the trailer. There was nothing in the boat except the aluminum and a couple pieces of plywood. We could not lift it. Once I pulled up the floor and removed the insulation we could lift the boat stern off the trailer with ease. It is amazing how much water that open cell foam can hold. Most boats use a spray in closed cell foam that won't until it gets very old.

cortman · September 12, 2016, 10:26:26 PM

Quote from: Bigwrench on September 12, 2016, 07:08:18 PM
Haven't in a boat that's less than 10 years , but I sure got my fill of it with my old tin rig restore . It's a chore for sure getting it out . I guess if it was mine I would strip it down to the hull , perform a leak test to pinpoint the leak , clean the hull really good and rebuck any rivets that the test shows and then coat the inside at the very least with the amazing goop product I used on mine. I did the inside and outside of mine and that stuff seems indestructible with Kevlar fibers. Still working on mine right now but that's what I would do. Leaving that saturated foam in there is going to cause major draft issues and hole shot/performance problems. It's hard to imagine but once that stuff is saturated it's extremely heavy

I read your restoration thread with keen interest- have there been any updates in a while? It really looked like it was going to be a gem of a boat when finished.

gatorglenn · September 13, 2016, 03:29:58 AM

Well I have a 2006 pro team 175. And I am tired of the carpet is needing to be replaced. But what I'm afraid of is right behind the storage bin on the port side it's all aluminum but it's starting to bow down. Friend of mine told me that his started doing the same thing. And it was from the foam being saturated and suck in the aluminum go to see hereto down with it. My plan is to take the wood deck off the front and cockpit floor, and put in aluminum flooring. change some of the lockers. Then use a spray in liner like rapture with a color. Instead of carpet. I just really don't like in a aluminum boat the phone not being sealed. Like it is in a glass boat. So yes a full restoration. Would greatly appreciate any future advice. Thanks

Oldfart9999 · September 13, 2016, 05:40:24 PM

The boats are filled with open cell foam which will suck up water over time. If yours is water logged then remove all of it, very messy job but needs to be done. Bigwrench tells you how to look for and find a leak but you won't have rivets, it's a welded hull and Tracker had some problems with them. If you have a leak it'll have to welded, you should find the reason, loose support, broken support, what ever and have it fixed by a welder. When you put it back together use foam insulation from Lowes or Home Depot, it can be cut with a table saw and doesn't need to be glued down, just be sure it's closed cell. Good luck on your build and be sure to share it with us, we may be able to help.
Rodney

Kris · September 13, 2016, 07:23:57 PM

I know the closed cell foam I was looking at Lowe's was green. I still may put more in my redo but I want to try her out for the rest of this Season. Also hoping to add a locker or two.

gatorglenn · September 14, 2016, 12:10:43 PM

I know it's supposed to be close cell foam in my boat. But are used the back storage bin on the port side as a cooler. When I pull the tray out to empty the water and ice. The condensation in the foam. Is there for day. If my wife goes for a swim a couple of times. The foam seems to stay wet for days. After that you can push on the foam , and no sign of water. But I can't help thinking water is settling in between the hull and foam. And not getting out fast enough. On that side of the boat, you can see pitting starting. So all the foam will be coming out. Adding foam that has air space around it. So water can pass, Is a much better scenario I think.