Fletch's 1976 170 Rebuild

[Capt Matt]

Most boat builders foam tanks in, its the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to go.  Over time the foam traps saltwater moisture  against the metal tank and will greatly shorten the tanks life.
If you don't plan on keeping the boat for a long time go with the foam.
Capt Matt

[Fletch170]

Pulling foam from the stringers....any good method? I started this last weekend.....what a time consuming mess!

[gran398]

Try a machete

[Fletch170]

I can see that going over real well.

I was thinking of buying a cheap electric turkey carver.....anything beats using a spade/ crow bar/ my hands.

Also, this is just be being paranoid....but there isnt a chance that bonding cement was made with asbestos....right? Cause if it was....I'm F*cked.

[Capt Matt]

A sawzaw worked pretty good for me, just cut long strips at different angles in the foam then used a pry bar. I finally had enough of it and  just ripped out the whole stringers when I saw they where delaminated in places. Building new stringers was easier than trying to remove every bit of that wet foam crap.
There is certainly no easy way to get rid of that itchy stuff
Capt Matt

[gran398]

I can see that going over real well.

I was thinking of buying a cheap electric turkey carver.....anything beats using a spade/ crow bar/ my hands.

Also, this is just be being paranoid....but there isnt a chance that bonding cement was made with asbestos....right? Cause if it was....I'm F*cked.

Fletch, thats what we used...a good heavy (army surplus) machete. Not on the hard stuff, the foam.

[c master]

This is only a personal opinion, but I'm in the commercial construction business so we deal with existing asbestos from time to time....mostly in old fire-proofing materials.  I think it's highly unlikely that any asbestos was in your boat's adhesive.  In any case it would not be "friable", meaning there would be no particles floating around in the air so no danger of inhaling fibers when scraping out the foam.  Even old floor tiles / glue are not a problem unless you put a belt-sander to them and create a lot of dust.   But for legal reasons, let me be clear: "Don't lick or chew on your boat, no matter how drunk you are, or how yummy it appears."   (maybe that should be a Federally required sticker, next to the "Zero Drug Tolerance" and "Oil Discharge Prohibited" signs).

[Fletch170]

C Master, I was worried, because I used an Air Chissel to get the adhesive off the stringers/ bottom/ everywhere. Whomever applied the adhesive was talking to his buddy at the time, because he sure as wasn't paying attention to the amout he was applying. Seriously, over 100LBS of that crap I painstakenly chiseled off. I'm supprised the damn boat didnt sink.

[c master]

Yeah...crazy.  Probably not carcinogenic but I can understand your concern!

I've said before, "Wouldn't you like to be able to question the previous owners of these old boats?"

[Capt. Bob]

I've never seen it done but from looking at so many pics of Aquas with the deck removed, I would guess that the stuff is just squirted on top of the stringers in a series of big blobs, running the length of each stringer. When the deck is set in place (think cap) the goo compresses and the extra goes....wherever. The stuff acts in two capacities, as both an adhesive and a leveling/filler compound. Kinda like grout under tile so to speak but with the space to get rid of the excess material

Following that line of thought, then you could never really have too much.

Just a guess.

[Fletch170]

Yea, I see what they were doing, but most of the pictures I see have about 6 inch round circles of the adhesive places about every 18 inches. On mine.....a very different story. There is a reason these boats last.

I'm going top glass in ply along the stringers, then glue (5200) and screw the deck in. This (Should) raise the deck and keep it where she belongs.....maybe even shed a few pounds.

[love2fish]

If you have a heavy duty drill (or a hammer drill) you can get a metal paint mixer and that works pretty well on breaking up the foam. Other people have also used a pressure washer. Makes a hell of a mess but is very effective.

[Fletch170]

Love2Fish,

I've been trying everything, and (like many things) the saws-all works the best so far.

The thought of using a power washer seems pretty comical...I'd pull up a chair and watch that!

[Capt Matt]

I don't remember which was worse to remove the wet foam or the bedding compound. My stringers where not skimped on either with the harder than nails bedding compound and talk about spillage it was all over.
Capt Matt

[Fletch170]

Hey guys!

finally got around to uploading a few pictures of my progress. I'm turning the bend! Check it out and let me know what ya think!

http://fletch170.blogspot.com/