I already posted this on the KW forums, but you guys usually give excellent answers, so I’m going to ask here too.
I had a conversation with someone about his older foam filled boat becoming waterlogged. I have a 2002 key west 2300cc and I love it. I hope it lasts forever… That being said, I know key west uses a lot of closed cell 2lb foam.
Has anyone had a problem with waterlogged foam flotation/stringers in a larger key west boat? Do they drain well enough to avoid that happening, or are we all doomed?
Either way, it’s still a sweet riding boat, even if it is/will be full of water.
Well I had a really old key west for a while and it showed no signs of water logging and the older pre97s I think are supposed to have more of these issues than the newer models because of a change in materials woods to composite and better foam. But a quick way to tell is to weigh your boat and compare to specs and extra weight should be able to be accounted for like gear and fuel. A good place to weigh your boat is at the dumps this is where I weighed mine for free. Carolina skiffs water log also and there is videos of how to drain them with a drill and shop vac. I wouldn’t be concerned unless your weight seems off or you have hull damage soft spots, bubbles, cracks and all closed cell foam has a minor absorbing property over time. If you really want peace of mind have it inspected.
You know how you can look at web md and suddenly you think you have a disease you never heard of before? I think that works with boat problems too.
I just repowered and it is slower than the performance data. I got it a bit closer today, so I don’t think I have any problems. Someone suggested that extra water weight could be slowing it down.
I got it from 47 to 51mph today by adjusting the motor height up.
Evinrude thinks it should be 54… So 47 was a bit slow. All good now.
It was in the late 90’s when most boat builders switched from an open cell foam that would absorb water like a sponge, to a closed cell foam that will not. Your 2002 should be good. And as mentioned, when in doubt weight it and compare to the factory numbers.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry
It was in the late 90’s when most boat builders switched from an open cell foam that would absorb water like a sponge, to a closed cell foam that will not. Your 2002 should be good. And as mentioned, when in doubt weight it and compare to the factory numbers.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
What about for vessels without “factory” numbers available? What is an acceptable moisture content for older foam?
Wadmalaw native
1999 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
1994 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
15’ Alumacraft, 1979 35 Johnson
ISLAND ARMORY, LLC - CONTACT ME FOR ALL OF YOUR FFL NEEDS!
quote:
What about for vessels without "factory" numbers available? What is an acceptable moisture content for older foam?
You should be able to find the original hull weight of almost any production boat.
To me the acceptable amount is zero. The foam I build with I’ve soaked in water, gas, oil and diesel for months and it won’t absorb anything.
If the hull is older than about 1996, the foam is probably waterlogged, which causes rotten stringers, decks and transoms. You can almost count on it.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I’d love for you to find me the weight of a 1994 Bentz Craft flats boat that was the only one made with a stainless poling platform instead of aluminum, and larger livewells than the other 2. I can’t find them…
I know the foam in the stern is “moist” sometimes, but sitting with hatches open in the sun it dries out in a day or two…I still am genuinely curious about an acceptable (if any) limit of moisture.
Wadmalaw native
1999 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
1994 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
15’ Alumacraft, 1979 35 Johnson
ISLAND ARMORY, LLC - CONTACT ME FOR ALL OF YOUR FFL NEEDS!
Ulmer boat works is making the Bentz Craft now from the same molds as before, think Seels sells them.
Yes they are and yes they are…but Robert only built 3 of the flats boats, and the Ulmers have yet to build one.
My questions still remain even after speaking with Mike Ulmer.
Wadmalaw native
1999 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
1994 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
15’ Alumacraft, 1979 35 Johnson
ISLAND ARMORY, LLC - CONTACT ME FOR ALL OF YOUR FFL NEEDS!
Find another owner and compare numbers, bentz craft where small production local builds I believe, Wademala if I was told correctly. I heard something like they sold or are going back into production so those may be some other areas to search and maybe if there is a owners club or forum.
Yes Bentz Craft were built in small numbers (Robert Bentz was my Uncle, I grew up on Bentz Rd even…) built on Wadmamalw on the corner of Yellow House road and Bears Bluff road, until he moved to the Navy base in the early 2000’s.
And as seen above, my flats boats are #1 and #3 out of only 3 built…so kind of hard to compare numbers. My 1999 is different than the 1994 in many ways, thus making a comparison difficult. The 1999 doesn’t have any foam at all, and the 94 has foam in the transom area.
Also as seen above, the Ulmer brothers purchased the molds from Robert shortly before he died, with the agreement being they would build the boats the same way Robert did, and the name would remain. They are now Bentz-Craft by Ulmer boatworks. I would love to compare weights to one of them, but they have not built a flats boat yet, and will be the last that they build…Also, the new ones they are building are not available with a 2-stroke engine, thus changing the weight, making this comparison even more difficult.
So, here we are, back to where we were above. I do not know the factory weight, nor can I find out at this point. I am merely interested in finding an acceptable moisture content of the foam that is present in my boat.
Thanks
Wadmalaw native
1999 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
1994 16’ Bentz-Craft flats
15’ Alumacraft, 1979 35 Johnson
ISLAND ARMORY, LLC - CONTACT ME FOR ALL OF YOUR FFL NEEDS!