Aluminum Boat - Foam Floatation - Cleaning - Corrosion
Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 12:32 pm
For all of those decked aluminum boat owners - I have an aluminum boat. This is the typical NW deep-v welded aluminum boat with vinyl decking, full windshield/steering wheel, vinyl top, etc. Because the boat is under 20 feet, it must float level when filled with water per coast guard regs. To achieve this, the manufacturer used expanding foam to fill portions of the hull under the deck. Last year, I discovered pitting through the hull. The pitting was fixed by the manufacturer at minimal cost, and the hull was re-foamed. My rookie research leads me to believe the pitting was caused by poor draining, which allowed the foam to stay wet, which in turn created an acidic environment.
Recently, I returned from a four-day at Sekiu (by the way, fishing was decent - not great). While there I ran the bilge after running the boat fast and at the end of each day. When I returned, I cleaned my boat in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. I then put the tongue on jacks an drained the boat for a few days . . . even vacuumed the drain hole to get the last remaining drips. Last night, I decided to pull a floor panel to ensure the area was dry, and to my dismay, I found water in the area of the new foam on the outer sides of the boat. It appears this area will not drain. I am, of course, paranoid that my boat may pit-out again.
Soooo - I have some questions. Has anyone experienced this problem on an aluminum boat (wet foam, or pitting), and if so, what did you do to solve it? And, more basically, how do you wash the interior of your boat after having it in the salt (What cleaner do you use? Do you hose it down or simply wipe it down? Out of the box solutions for draining?). Any thoughts you wish to share?
Thanks for your input. With the exception of this issue, I love this boat, and I take great care of it. I hope to be able to pass it along to my son when my boating days are over.
Happy Fishing!
Recently, I returned from a four-day at Sekiu (by the way, fishing was decent - not great). While there I ran the bilge after running the boat fast and at the end of each day. When I returned, I cleaned my boat in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. I then put the tongue on jacks an drained the boat for a few days . . . even vacuumed the drain hole to get the last remaining drips. Last night, I decided to pull a floor panel to ensure the area was dry, and to my dismay, I found water in the area of the new foam on the outer sides of the boat. It appears this area will not drain. I am, of course, paranoid that my boat may pit-out again.
Soooo - I have some questions. Has anyone experienced this problem on an aluminum boat (wet foam, or pitting), and if so, what did you do to solve it? And, more basically, how do you wash the interior of your boat after having it in the salt (What cleaner do you use? Do you hose it down or simply wipe it down? Out of the box solutions for draining?). Any thoughts you wish to share?
Thanks for your input. With the exception of this issue, I love this boat, and I take great care of it. I hope to be able to pass it along to my son when my boating days are over.
Happy Fishing!