foaming the hull on a 20'???

[GroveGuy]

Welcome to the site Butch and thanks for contributing

That sounds like a pretty sophisticated setup. How many compatrments did you have and any Pics?

[ButchF20]

It was really only two main compartments that I ran the pipe in. I have two main stringers that run for and aft, from the transome to the forward bulkhead, where the cuddy is. They about 16" high and were originally just 1 by lumber that was just mush by the time I got to it. I replaced with plywood that was liberaly soaked with resin before glassing in.

In between these stringer is where the tank would be which I also replaced. This area already had a pvc pipe in it which would allow any water in the front cabin area, run to the back. I drilled a couple of 1/2" holes in this pipe, which would allow any water in there to escape. Orriginaly when I removed the tank and foam, I had about 10" of very SWEET smelling water that had no place to escape.

The sections I put the drain in were the two that were outboard of the two main stringers, the PVC pipes were about 12 ft long and extended into the engine bilge area about an inch, where any water can be removed by the bilge pumps. I have some photo's I will have to post.

All of the dammage, rotten stringers, floor, bulkhead and pitted and leaking gas tank were all caused because water gets trapped in there with no way to ever dry out or escape. i guess when the built these boats they never expected them to last this long. The older Grady Whites are really famous for this, I know of at least six in my area that have had the same problem.

Thanks,
Butch