polyurethane foam

[BuilderFL]

Just took the lid off my 1980 V20 Fisherman with intension of removing the old polyurethane foam, repairing and/or replacing the stringers, however I'm considering not putting any foam back into the boat. Besides flotation, can anybody shed some light as to why I need to replace the foam?

[macojoe]

Floation is the reason, it also will deaden the noice a bit, and holds the gas tank nice and tight.

[msbhammer]

Hey Mac, after 20 years, can the foam in my 86 V-20 go bad ??? ???

[captbent]

when i pulled my deck the foam around tank was like new she is a 26 year old

[macojoe]

the foam will stay forever!! If you have no reason to touch it (gas leak, water, fix stringer, ect... ect...) then leave it alone.

[pikfish]

Also if you do need to remove foam that is good try to cut it out in large pieces, or pry out whole blocks and just put them back in after the repair. The two part expanding foam (or any floatation) is quite expensive!

[reelapeelin]

Builder, is there a particular reason you're considering leavig the foam out?...trouble/ money...flotation is the main idea behind foaming a hull, also it does strengthen a hull when installed properly and "quiets" a hull as well...if any way, I'd be puttin' the foam back in after repairs... ;) :)...if you replace foam w/ new be SURE it is a "CLOSED-CELL" product..

Hammer, foam CAN become water-logged over time...I don't think your boat has been neglected to that extreme... 8)...

[BuilderFL]

Thanks for the feedback!
The foam is going back in when I'm done with the repairs. (I should have check the prices of the closed cell two part foam before taking on the project).
By the way, this is what Tom Dystra from Wellcraft had to say "The foam is required to meet NMMA federal standards which all boat manufactures must comply with".

[reelapeelin]

Which means they HAVE to do it in order to sell boats, whereas we SHOULD do as responsible boat operators...if I ever GOTTA open the floor on my old '74, it'll go in... ;)...

Good luck w/ it, Builder...take pics and post 'em here of B4, during and after progress... :D...

[macojoe]

I have never opened mine, but I no that they did not start the foam till like 77. Any way I no I have nothing in mine.

[reelapeelin]

Yeah, MJ, ...you can call me "Foamless in SC"... :-/...

[pikfish]

The floatation standards have changed in the years but I thought that atleast the "swamped floatation" standard would have applied to all V-20s built. Today a V-20 would have to conform to the "level Floatation" standard. My 1972 V -17 had foam in it.
Below is a link to the boatbuilders floatation standards

http://uscgboating.org/safety/boatbuilder/flotation_landing.htm

[reelapeelin]

I think the ''sinks like a stone" standard applied to mine...I'd be pleasantly shocked (mostly shocked :o ) to find ANY foam flotation in mine...last foam that was in my boat "Mullet-Head Walker fumbled a cold PBR on the deck jumpin' for a well-bent striper rod... 8)...

[BuilderFL]

Surprisingly, the foam was is good shape, however the same is not true for the stringer and floor supports (members that run perpendicular to the stringers). What originally were active cores of 5/8” plywood is now foul smelling decomposed muck in a casing of fiberglass being held in place mostly by the foam, so badly deteriorated that injecting epoxy would not repair them. Two center floor supports were cut off today leaving about an inch of the fiberglass skin in all three sides to provide for an exact replacement location, cleaned and ready for new plywood tomorrow. Although I was surprised as to how sturdy and well built the stringers and floors are, Wellcraft forgot to seal (caulk or epoxy) around the plywood edge in the areas that had been cut out for cable sleeves and drain. I’m taking pictures and I will be sharing them soon.

[willy]

FL they didn't forget they just didn't do it lot of guys here opened up their boats for the same reason and found the same thing

[reelapeelin]

Lots of guys w/ mfgrs other than Wellcraft, too...saw a Grady on THT the same way... ;)...

What's the stuff to pour a transom?...couldn't you pour stringers/cross-members as well?...just cut off the tops, clean out rot, pour and glass-over again...seems reasonable to me...it'd sure never rot again ;)...

[macojoe]

Seacast

[reelapeelin]

Yeah, Seacast...why couldn't ya cut off tops of stringers and crossovers and pour 'em up w/ the stuff??...

[BuilderFL]

Check out the pictures in my gallery.