TOPIC: styrofoam core??

The hull side,bottom, transome etc look's great. I pulled up the carpets and found patch's in the fiberglass floor. Soft spots. Opened up a small section, wet styrofoam. Stripped away the glass, see photo and the only wood stringers are at the edge of the foam close to the sides.?? Going to strip out all the foam, rear seat and motor well and let it dry a few weeks then see what I have. After sell the 4 stroke honda that came on this rig, I have $0 in the boat and trailer and am woring on the 500 merc to go on it. When you helper gets it cleaned out, I will post photos and ask for advice. One sheet of 4x8 will cover it back to 12" from the transom. I know I will need suppor and stringers? Then glass it over.??

Is that wood under the styrofoam?



It looks like you are going to want to rebuild it using a similar technique, although different materials. That looks like open cell foam and it should be closed cell.

You're not going to want to change the structural integrity of the hull by rebuilding with stringers as that could create "hard spots" in the hull. It's also not going to be fun to try to make that tight a bend with any sort of plywood.

I would recommend rebuilding it with a closed cell foam core and just glassing it in.

Thanks Dave, that makes sence. It would be a lot easer for sure. Will get it all stripped out and let it dry good. Then take a good look at it.

Getting there. I knew this boat felt heavy. My guess is 300 lbs of wet foam. Finish it off over the next few days and let it dry for a couple of weeks. We are talking dry desert air too. That will give me a break to work on the paint on the 500 Merc.

Alot of work but.....