Post by: Trigger05-11 on July 24, 2024, 11:22:25 PM
Tomorrow I am going to take the floor out. I anticipate the water logged foam that people talk about under the floor. Does anyone have any experience, pointers or suggestions for removing it? All pointers and help are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Post by: HntnFsh on July 25, 2024, 05:40:04 AM
Post by: Blacklab on July 25, 2024, 06:35:57 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 25, 2024, 07:32:49 AM
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 09:37:01 AM
Grab a cordless drill, battery charger, shop vac and a handful of the quick change long rigid and flexible extensions, and some wire bristle brushes. Run your shop vac and hit the foam with the wire bristle brush, turns it into a powder that just goes into your shop vac.
Makes a frustrating project easy.
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:41:06 AM
I decided to give my friend the benefit of the doubt and pull my floorboards, in my case, I had waterlogged foam.
The foam itself is a closed cell expanding 2 part mixed foam that gets injected into the boat with floorboards on (per manufacturer when I called to pick their brain).
I had to do it myself, because unfortunately with weldcraft, 1st owner gets a lifetime warranty, 2nd owner gets nothing. I got the short end of the stick as a second owner.
What happened to mine, on installation of the foam, some of it over expanded into a couple of drain channels, and essentially blocked them off.
I had to cut a portion of the aluminum out underneath to get to the drain in question.
Called up weldcraft and went over blueprints and engineering drawings, worked with their engineers to figure out where I could cut a section away that wouldn't hurt structure.
Found my point, cut my access patch in and went to town on getting the foam out.
Got.it cleared and did a re-pour of the 2 part foam, wanting to keep things basically stock the way they came..... we'll, that bit me as I had to remove more foam all over again....
As it sits now, I took most of the foam out, drilled extra drain holes being mindful of structure, and riveted my access plate back in. I pull my floorboard once a year, pop my access plate under the floor out, make sure it's clear, rivet it back in and put my board back down and everything is good to go.
Long story short, ditch the foam and don't look back.
I'll post pictures.
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:45:38 AM
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:47:21 AM
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:50:21 AM
Welded two tabs on wither side of the plate that would overlap underneath the structure so the plate would fit flush.
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:51:55 AM
You can see the drill extensions I'm talking about in this picture attached to the drill.
Flexible ones work great as well
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:53:41 AM
I also took the time to get corrosion off the structure underneath and prime with I believe a zinc phosphate marine primer.
Long story short, take the foam out and be done
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on July 25, 2024, 11:57:26 AM
Post by: Crunchy on July 25, 2024, 12:59:34 PM
Post by: jamesfromseattle on July 25, 2024, 01:10:47 PM
Post by: Trigger05-11 on July 25, 2024, 01:57:40 PM
Post by: huntnphool on July 25, 2024, 02:16:38 PM
Glad my NR is foam free. Does not look like fun.
+1
I’d also make the drain holes in each segmented compartment bigger while you are in there. This helps them from getting clogged and standing water being trapped under your floor.
Post by: Trigger05-11 on July 25, 2024, 06:15:01 PM
Post by: huntnphool on July 25, 2024, 11:55:19 PM
I started pulling the floor up. We have foam from the bow all the way to the stern. It’s in there super tight and appears difficult to impossible for water to flow under the floor. I can’t believe it.
Legally that’s the way it’s supposed to be, they did what they had to in order to comply. :twocents:
Post by: Trigger05-11 on August 02, 2024, 08:02:15 PM
Found three soft spots in the wood floor. I think we will swap out the floor for diamond plate next year.
Thanks for the help!
Post by: HntnFsh on August 02, 2024, 08:56:58 PM
Post by: Stein on August 04, 2024, 01:53:12 PM
There are two types of 2-part foam, the cheap expanding stuff and the really expensive stuff that can be in the water for years without absorbing water. People also put other stuff under there to provide some flotation.