View Thread
Before Posting, Please Read Our Posting Guidelines Below.

1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011
2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260
3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22
4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.

 Print Thread
Saturated Foam Core
QuarterSea
#1 Print Post
Posted on 08/23/09 - 8:49 AM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 25
Comments: 0
Joined: 08/12/09

I have what I thought was a unique opportunity... I acquired a 17' retired US Coast Guard Whaler (Montauk style). By the way, when the USCG retires a Whaler, they cut it in half and take it to the landfill. I have the ability to put it back together, except that yesterday I found that the foam in the stern section floor is saturated. Has anyone ever had success is drying out a saturated foam core?
If so how? At the moment I'm thinking my winter project might be destined for the landfill again. Any ideas?


Gary, aka QuarterSea
 
ritzyrags
#2 Print Post
Posted on 08/23/09 - 11:16 AM
User Avatar
Member
Project Albums

Posts: 1003
Comments: 36
Joined: 06/18/08

Well;
The price on this unit seems to have been right..
Cut it in half will be a traditionally seen military solution in regard to having to abandon materials.To put it at auction or to get a signature on a weaver..will be seen as a more modern idea by many.
As far as your question is concerned;
1- You can open the hull at top and drill holes on the keel section and assess the degree of water containment.
2-Remove the foam manually and replace with fresh material
3-Have it drying up in a heated structure while being opened.
This last solution may take months or years to "dry" said foam.
No; First thing first.
You will have to decide if these kind of efforts will be worth it since the hull has been scrapped as you have described.
It may possibly a time to consider and pass on that one.


Dont lie
Dont Cheat
And dont give up..
 
arthureld
#3 Print Post
Posted on 08/23/09 - 1:43 PM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 735
Comments: 7
Joined: 02/15/07

Leave it in the desert for one summer open side down.
I haven't tried it but I bet it would help.
Seems like it would take one heck of a repair job to keep that sucker from cracking open again.

 
ioptfm
#4 Print Post
Posted on 08/23/09 - 2:39 PM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 1533
Comments: 3
Joined: 10/28/06

All I can say is I sure hope you will post a lot of before-during and after pictures of this project!


Tom
1979 Sport 15'
 
HarleyFXDL
#5 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 5:46 AM
Member
Personal Page
Project Albums

Posts: 917
Comments: 30
Joined: 07/24/07

Even free would be to high a price for me. Good luck if you decide to take on the project.


Kevin
1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp.
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
"Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
 
HarleyFXDL
#6 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 5:57 AM
Member
Personal Page
Project Albums

Posts: 917
Comments: 30
Joined: 07/24/07

I'm sorry, I need to ask a few questions here. First, why is the government cutting a boat in half? How come my tax dollars are not recycled into a positive cash flow? I now have to PAY someone from my tax dollars to cut the boat up, then clog up the landfill with a boat, that a 1000 yrs from now, will most likely still be there. Why can't the government just auction off the boat? I'm sorry if I am ranting, but this procedure seems pretty stupid.


Kevin
1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp.
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
"Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
 
cmartino
#7 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 6:09 AM
Member

Posts: 2
Comments: 0
Joined: 08/24/09

Gents I'm new to site and boats in general....so i need an opinion. I am about to purchase a 2005 235 Conquest with roughly 238 hours on a 250 HP Merc Verado. Would you all rec. having a survey conducted on this type of boat ?

 
ritzyrags
#8 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 6:22 AM
User Avatar
Member
Project Albums

Posts: 1003
Comments: 36
Joined: 06/18/08

Yes.


Dont lie
Dont Cheat
And dont give up..
 
wrangler
#9 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 7:34 AM
Member

Posts: 264
Comments: 0
Joined: 03/14/08

To answer Harley's question. As a retired Coastie, I have used the chainsaw to cut up fiberglass boats.
Those that are in real "bad" shape, (this one with a saturated foam core for example) are usually cut up so the boating public cannot injure themselves and the govt does not want the liablity. Imagine buying an ex Coast Guard boat and hurting or killing your family. Does not sound to good.
We towed a 30' from Cape Canaveral to Jacksonville, picked it up on the travellift, set it on land and when I was done, it all fit in a dumpster. The boat was in bad shape, when the USCG gets done with a boat, it usually is. The USCG gets US Navy hand me downs, and they keep it going for as long as 60 years. The USN only gets new boats. The USCG gives the public their tax dollars worth. It is cut up after a survey is made. Bad enough, it is made unfit for the public.

 
Derwd24
#10 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 8:43 AM
User Avatar
Member

Posts: 1607
Comments: 9
Joined: 05/09/07

The GSA website sometimes has pre-bifurcated Whalers for sale, two on there now, that need work but are intact (for the most part) and repairable.

http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gs...aauctions/


Dave - 1983 Outrage 22
 
Mr T
#11 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 9:26 AM
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 230
Comments: 0
Joined: 07/07/08

If the boat has been cut in half, I would not suggest trying to put it back together. I cannot see a way this would end well.

sorry, but they cut it up for a reason.

 
Binkie
#12 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 2:14 PM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 2012
Comments: 0
Joined: 12/19/05

I think you could put it back together if you used dowels, and 5200. I think that would work. Actually I don`t think this is a serious thread.

Years ago I took a load of construction debris to the dump. As I pulled into the dumping area, I spied an 11 foot Whaler someone had just dumped off in the pile. I got rid of my stuff quickly and loaded the Whaler in my pickup. It was then I heard someone yell. I should have made believe I was deaf, and hightailed it, but I realized I would have been caught at the exit gate. as they weigh your vehicle going in and coming out, and you pay for the tonnage you dumped off. Anyway 3 guys quickly came over, and told me to dump the boat back off, so I did. They wandered away, and I contemplated taking the Whaler again, but just then this big front end loader drove up with a giant roller with spikes on it and rolled over the boat, twice for good measure. It was crushed like a styrofoam cup.


Rich
 
LabCab
#13 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 2:54 PM
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 100
Comments: 7
Joined: 01/17/09

Why on earth would there be a Coast Guard presence in the midwest? Anyway there was a guy with a project album on iBoats forum a while back who cut his boat in half to add several feet of length. It looked very involved. The boat had a wood frame under fiberglass. Maybe if you stand each half on its cut side for a while it might dry a bit. I think all of us are intrigued and would like to see you open a project album.

 
arthureld
#14 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 5:15 PM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 735
Comments: 7
Joined: 02/15/07

The great lakes have Coast Guard

 
HarleyFXDL
#15 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 5:15 PM
Member
Personal Page
Project Albums

Posts: 917
Comments: 30
Joined: 07/24/07

Years ago I took a load of construction debris to the dump. As I pulled into the dumping area, I spied an 11 foot Whaler someone had just dumped off in the pile. I got rid of my stuff quickly and loaded the Whaler in my pickup. It was then I heard someone yell. I should have made believe I was deaf, and hightailed it, but I realized I would have been caught at the exit gate. as they weigh your vehicle going in and coming out, and you pay for the tonnage you dumped off. Anyway 3 guys quickly came over, and told me to dump the boat back off, so I did. They wandered away, and I contemplated taking the Whaler again, but just then this big front end loader drove up with a giant roller with spikes on it and rolled over the boat, twice for good measure. It was crushed like a styrofoam cup.


Maybe a liberal use of the "wallet" might have kept the whaler on the truck Binkie.


Kevin
1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp.
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
"Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
 
QuarterSea
#16 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 6:28 PM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 25
Comments: 0
Joined: 08/12/09

I appreciate everyone's interest. I appreciate you input.

I am a new member to the WhalerCentral site so they will not let me do a Project Album yet.

SO....I have posted photos on my Personal Page.

Since the bottom was already cut by the Coasties, I went ahead and took off half the bottom on the stern section. Gladly, while there is a lot of water present inside the hull, the foam being closed cell is not saturated as I suspected.

To the guy who said this is not a real post, I have several grinders. Come on over and itch a while......


Gary, aka QuarterSea
 
ioptfm
#17 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 7:02 PM
User Avatar
Member
Personal Page

Posts: 1533
Comments: 3
Joined: 10/28/06

Now that is a project boat! Please keep us up to date with step by step progress!


Tom
1979 Sport 15'
 
number9
#18 Print Post
Posted on 08/24/09 - 10:35 PM
Member

Posts: 210
Comments: 1
Joined: 03/13/08

It does look like a project but at least she wasn't cut lengthwise.

If you have macro on you camera it would be nice to see some closeups.

Thanks and good luck with the project.


Bill...On the Ogeechee
1984 Outrage 18...Yamaha T50...that's right, 50hp
 
HarleyFXDL
#19 Print Post
Posted on 08/25/09 - 5:27 AM
Member
Personal Page
Project Albums

Posts: 917
Comments: 30
Joined: 07/24/07

wrangler wrote:
To answer Harley's question. As a retired Coastie, I have used the chainsaw to cut up fiberglass boats.
Those that are in real "bad" shape, (this one with a saturated foam core for example) are usually cut up so the boating public cannot injure themselves and the govt does not want the liablity. Imagine buying an ex Coast Guard boat and hurting or killing your family. Does not sound to good.
We towed a 30' from Cape Canaveral to Jacksonville, picked it up on the travellift, set it on land and when I was done, it all fit in a dumpster. The boat was in bad shape, when the USCG gets done with a boat, it usually is. The USCG gets US Navy hand me downs, and they keep it going for as long as 60 years. The USN only gets new boats. The USCG gives the public their tax dollars worth. It is cut up after a survey is made. Bad enough, it is made unfit for the public.


How is it any different if I sell a boat in the same condition? I can't be held responsible once a boat is sold, so, how could someone sue the government? How many dealerships sell a young kid a corvette, he goes out and gets hurt, you can't sue the dealership for selling the car?


Kevin
1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp.
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
"Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
 
Phil T
#20 Print Post
Posted on 08/25/09 - 6:31 AM
User Avatar
Administrator
Personal Page
Personal Album
Project Albums

Posts: 6991
Comments: 6
Joined: 03/26/05

If you read about the construction of the hull, the combination of the fiberglass and the foam (bonds with the fiberglass skin and deck give the hull its strength. There are no stringers in a Boston Whaler.

Side stepping the saturated foam for a minute, the first challenge is to design a method to reconnect the two parts of the hull. I don't know of a practical way to reattach the halves without immense work, materials expense and weight.

If the hull were not cut in half, the saturated foam could be removed (cutting a portion of the inner deck) refoaming and re-glassing the floor.

I can guesstimate you are looking at $500-700 in materials alone. Given there are many "beater" whalers in better shape for less money, I would suggest you return the hull to the landfill and find a non-separated hull.


 
Jump to Forum:
Bookmark and Share
Today's Date & Time
May 6, 2024 - 12:13 PM
Users Online
Welcome
jeff marcus
as the newest member

· Guests Online: 13
· Members Online: 0
· Total Members: 50,056
Login
Username

Password

Remember Me


Not a member yet?
Click here to register.

Forgotten your password?
Request a new one here.
Top 5 Models Posted
· Montauk 17 1,626
· Sport 13 1,358
· Outrage 18 551
· Nauset 16 399
· Sport 15 363

View all Models Here
Render time: 0.25 seconds Copyright WhalerCentral.com © 2003-2024 83,287,954 unique visits