Waterlogged Foam

[Locke N Load]

I have started tearing into my '71 Seafari 20 and found waterlogged foam. I only want to replace the deck and not get into the forward cubby area. Will it work to leave the area open for a while to let the water drain out and foam dry before I seal it all up with a new deck and fresh foam?

[DonV]

I'm assuming you are taking out all the foam you can get to, oh yeah use a pressure washer, makes a mess buy you're done and cleaned up in 45 minutes. I don't know if any left over wet foam ever dries, especially if it's not out in the sun.

[Locke N Load]

Maybe I can dig further up towards the bow and see if I can get to dryness. There was rotted deck core wood where a strip of wood was screwed down on top to keep the kitchenette seat thing in place. A foot in either direction and the wood was fine. I am wondering if the water only wicked a ways up from there into the foam. Further investigation is required!

[flyingfrizzle]

Tilt the boat up high as you can in the front and let gravity do its job. A few hot 90 deg weeks it will get most of it. Bad thing is once you go back using the boat, any water that finds its way down there will soak right back in

[Cape Codder]

I have this problem too. The seal around the rubber drain hoses that goes through the stringer and into the bilge have pretty much disintegrated so the water in the bilge is seeping into the stringers. Ive gotta think its a pretty common problem. Any thoughts on how to remedy this?

[Locke N Load]

In the interim I have pulled more of the cockpit deck. Now my plan is to remove the rest of the deck in the cubby in one piece, pull the foam, replace it, put back that foredeck and replace the rest of the remaining deck with new.