Flotation foam now ballast foam?!

[KrustyKrab]

Hello Everyone. While working on my bow eye recently (I'll post that repair in another post) I noticed that my bow flotation foam was wet. Upon further inspection it will ooze water when I push on it, like a big sponge. It is not just surface water. And the adjacent locker is rotting out from the moisture. (pics)

Until last year it had been sitting idle for about 8 years and I believe there is a leak topside somewhere. I am working on re-bedding my hardware with "Bed-It" (which is great stuff, by the way). So, it has been accumulating water for some time.

My question being, since the foam is now more like ballast, should I dig it out and replace it with something? Best ideas on how to dig it out? Replace with what - more pour foam, pool noodles, air bags, the ex-wife? Ideas and thoughts appreciated

 

[philwsailz]

Dig the foam out and call that space storage... It only partially floats the boat if a sinking occurs and serves no purpose otherwise.

You maintain an otherwise dry boat and sail in a prudent sensible manner right? If so no need for that foam.

Catalina does not put foam in anywhere, just for perspective's sake...

 

[Chief RA]

I am with Phil, dig it out and leave it out! My boat don't have no stinkin' foam! Chief

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

When the first 23.5 was built, it was decided to include foam for buoyancy to allay any fears that many sailors at the time had should a boat sink. For what it is worth, I was on the first boat to be tested for this and it worked. Phil is correct it serves no other purpose so if you want to remove it for storage, that will be your choice but to find the leak is another issue.

 

[KrustyKrab]

Thanks guys for the info. I don't so much need the storage, I'm just a day sailor. My concern was that the foam is soaking up water, acting as negative buoyancy, and rotting my bulkheads.

Dave, is there a particular weak spot topside where these 23.5's were prone to leaks?

 

[Chief RA]

Get someone inside, close it up and force spray with water hose and you will find the leaks. Chief

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Krusty;

Do you want me to send you my phone number and you can call me vs. me calling you? There is an easy way to find leaks and I know that boat of yours too well.

 

[KrustyKrab]

Get someone inside, close it up and force spray with water hose and you will find the leaks. Chief

The trouble with these 23.5's is that they have a plastic headliner in the cabin so the leaks manifest by filling the dome light bezels or running down the cabin sides. You can't actually see the source, short of tearing out the headliner, which I would really prefer to avoid.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Again here is my trick to finding topside leaks. Close the opening ports and hatches and apply tape over the edges so no air can escape. Then take a piece of plastic and tape over the entire companion way with a slit in it. Put a leaf blower thru the slit and tape around it. Have a second person with a bucket of real soapy water and brush. Turn the leaf blower on and then brush everything on the deck i.e. fittings and rub rail and where you see air escaping or bubbling out, there is a leak. It worked well for me. Simply put you are pressurizing the cabin and air has to escape.

 

[KrustyKrab]

That's a great trick Dave. Now to get the wife to climb up there with a bucket of soapy water.....