You will want to inspect the hull of the boat once the boat is dry. Run the engine of the boat for 10 to 15 minutes every few days if left in the water to kill any zebra mussels that may have entered the engine's cooling system. It’s crucial to use a cleaner specially formulated for boat hulls. Maybe worse if the foam is softened and disolved by the alcohol.BillS. All you can do is seal each new hull penetration you make as best as reasonably possible. Google, one of our third-party advertisers, may add a cookie to determine targeted advertisements based on your preferences and your visit to our site and other sites on the internet. is incorrect. Using a nylon brush or sponge, scrub the stain gently. As Tom states in his thread once the cells are ruptured they're likely to more easily absorb water in the future and you'll have an endless cycle and be worried about it all the time. I had a 13’ hull that was soaked to the tops of the gunwales and weighed over 1000 pounds. This means it does not readily absorb water. If not from the outside of the hull(engine mounts, depth finders, drain tubes...) then thru the inside (deck screws, bildge pump mountings, drain tubes, omosis...). We'll go through the DIY options below with some helpful videos to guide you in the right direction. Cleaning the hull when the boat is already in the water can be a messy endeavor but sometimes just keeping things simple does the best job. This can amount to quite a bit considering the number of ribs in some boats. While fiberglass boat repair may sound scary and expensive, small and moderate gouges in your hull don’t have to be a nightmare. Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features! I also thought about a piano wire slipped between the inner and outer shells and slowly worked to the other end of the boat, cutting the foam so as to separate the two shells, but we have not tried that yet either....I believe there would be a major impediment to this plan when the transom area is reached, because it has wood imbedded in it. Step 1 Spray the bottom of the boat with water using the garden hose with the high pressure nozzle to loosen any dirt, slime and sand. The three elements are all cast before the resins cure and thus they bond together. To remove water you are going to need to drill more holes. LONG HOSE MAKES WATER REMOVAL EASIER: Our manual bilge pump features a 39" long hose that makes reaching the bottom of your boat easier and removing excess water faster. Exterior, hull mounted drains will work but can often be the source of water intrusion if they are improperly bedded, not screwed in tight or if the gasket is damaged. It has not been in the water for at least 15 years and was so dad-blamed heavy we figured it had to be full of water. On the boat that I restored we removed water using two methods. Most people are hesitant to drill holes in a boat but since it is fiberglass, filling the holes back in permanently is not a big deal. This is help to remove water normally held back by the ribs. Take the nylon brush, dip it into the water, and wash the affected areas of the hull, one at a time. Removing water from the foam is fairly simple and can be done via gravity or suction. Use a deck brush to help scrub as you go. The holes were small so no fiberglass cloth was needed. The condition of the boats hull after a few months sitting in the lake water exposed to sun. ‍ DIY BOAT HULL CLEANER. After about a … I would love to discover one. Next you will need a large truck that has a hitch and trailer attached to it, and secure everything so the boat stays on and doesn't come off of the trailer. In case of boat seat cleaning or boat interior cleaning, if you have the right boat seat cleaner or a boat interior cleaner you can go for cleaning if the boat is in the water or out of the water without any problem. First, when the boat was upside down I drilled out  a large hole on each side of the boat. This particular wet hull and its dissection has been discussed extensively here: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001747.html. After I removed all the water that I could I filled the void with Gorilla Glue and taped off the hole to hold the glue in. (Note – One thing to remember is to never pressurize the hull by blowing air into it. Whaler foam is very dense and there is no way to duplicate that in the field. I know of no way to completely dry out a fully saturated hull. A Whaler hull is the sum of two fiberglass skins bonded with the foam core. 3. We have not tried acetone yet. Life's too short. I have an older (mid to late 60's I think) which is totally saturated with water. Remove larger barnacles with a plastic putty knife. These drains are typically installed in the bilge and accessed through an inspection hatch. search | FAQ | Only the opening is the size of a pinhole - You'd never get it dry.Once in, the water will always be there - And over time it always gets in. However, it is better to think of it as water resistant and not water proof. is incorrect. Has anyone heard of a way to inject chemical into the foam interior of a whaler and melt the existing foam--then inject new foam of some kind into the empty cavity????? Most people are hesitant to drill holes in a boat but since it is fiberglass, filling the holes back in permanently is not a big deal. To help you, here’s a simple guide on how to remove stains from a boat hull. This pulls a vacuum and drys out a large area of the foam. This is especially a problem if the boat stays in the water and there is a crack below the waterline. First, take down the canvases and wrap them up. Simply apply with the chip brush and watch it eat away the stains. Removing water from the foam is fairly simple and can be done via gravity or suction. Start spraying the toilet bowl solution onto the water line on the hull. Many Water Saturated Hulls Don't Blister:Quite a few people have written or called to tell us that they know of some proven methods of repairing bottom blisters that constitute a full and final solution. With circular motions, remove all the algae buildup. Then I let it run for hours and hours. You can add baking soda or garden lime to the bucket of water to make it more effective against the acid. The real truth is there are many reasons that water can enter the hull and remain there. Start with a plastic knife so there is less chance … Imagine a soaked sponge in a coke bottle. Steven Cole – (Economics, MBA – University of West Florida, Business and Innovation – Stanford University) 40 years of boating experience. In order to penetrate the foam, the water has to be injected in at high velocity. Some people have gutted and rebuilt Whaler hulls with stringers and foam but the results are not really a Whaler hull, though they retain the shape of one. Remove any large pieces of debris, seaweed and dirt by pulling it … When it was dry I made a void and filled the area with epoxy inside and out. What I loved about the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner is that its formula is designed to quickly remove stains in a safe and effective manner. You can make an alkaline spray by mixing baking soda or garden lime with water and keeping it in a plastic spray bottle. Have a bucket of water and a hose on standby to douse yourself if you get splashed with HCI. Now, in case of a boat hull, it is different. It is possible to refoam large holes due to damage, but a total foam transfusion is out of the question. Each of the systems and products offered by West, Ashland Chemical and International Paint were mentioned. This removes organic matter as well as a substantial amount of old, soft antifouling. A couple of applications and gentle scrubbing with a nylon brush may be necessary to remove the husks. © Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000. http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001747.html. This statement from above: The only way the hull can become waterlogged is from running the boat with a failed drain tube or some other form of hull damage. http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage60.html, http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage30.html, to see how a boat was de-watered and rebuilt. The foam in a Boston Whaler is a closed cell type foam and always has been. Or if the breach is inside the boat towards the back where water sits. Tip #3. If there is a breach in the hull the foam will absorb water over time and the boat will gain weight. Using the garden hose, rinse the boat hull. With the right tools and skills, you can find a leak and fix it before it becomes a problem. I let the boat drip for a few days and then dried the hole with a wet vac, made a void with a drill bit and then filled the holes with gorilla glue. Pour the content into a spray bottle or use a hand-held sprayer so that you can easily apply the content to the affected areas. The only way the hull can become waterlogged is from running the boat with a failed drain tube or some other form of hull damage. Happy boating! Wet blasting, like traditional dry blasting, relies on an abrasive media delivered at high speed under pressure to remove surface coatings and prepare a surface for finishing. This HowToInAFew video shows you how to clean yellow and brown water stains from the hull of your boat to brighten the fiberglass. There is far more to wet foam than that. The holes were next to the rub rail but since the boat was inverted they were at the bottom. Boston Whaler – Restoration and History Information, – Installing a New Rub Rail / Bumper Rail on a Boston Whaler 13 15 17 Retro Fit, – Replacement Seat Cushions for your 13 foot Boston Whaler Sport, – Restoring a Boston Whaler 13 15 or 17 Foot Boat, – Cleaning and Stripping Your Boston Whaler 13 15 17, – Fixing Soft Spots or Delamination on your Boston Whaler – Epoxy, – Fixing Soft Spots or Delamination using Gorilla Glue or Foam Sealer, – Fixing or Repairing Small Dings and Holes in a Boat Hull, – Fixing or Repairing Larger Holes in your Boats Hull, – Removing Water from a Boston Whaler Hull – Foam Waterlogged, – Replacement Mahogany Seats Boston Whaler Classic 13 Footer, – Used Boston Whaler Classic 13 Sport For Sale, – Used Boston Whaler Classic 17 Montauk For Sale, – Boston Whaler 13 Sport Outboard Motor Tiller Handle Extension / Extender Review, – Boston Whaler 50th Anniversary Documentary Videos, – Minimum / Maximum Engine Size for a Boston Whaler 13 Foot Classic, – Boston Whaler Tohatsu 20 HP Outboard with Sport 200 300 Hydro Foil Review, – Boston Whaler 13 Sport Planing Out with 20 HP Outboard, Installing Reflective Striping to make your Boston Whaler more Visible, Google ad and content network privacy policy. Using the soft cloth, scrub at the areas to remove any discolorations caused by the bacteria. [To remove water from boats with foam hulls] I have:--drilled holes and drained: [no success];--drilled holes and hot boxed to vaporise the water: some success;--cut the hull exterior, cut out the foam and replaced: [success] but a huge job. This hand siphoning pump features a 1" intake nozzle and 1.25" diameter hose allowing the hand pump hose to remove water … Then I sanded and smoothed on some West System epoxy. If you can organise it, cleaning off the hull like this is actually a job best done soon after the boat comes out of the water. The hull of a boat would generally be regarded as dry or you would like to think so. Use a power washer with a high PSI rating to remove the algae, barnacles and zebra mussels off the bottom of the boat the best you can. Upon dissection, 100% of the foam was found to be wet. Finally, rinse or rub the entire hull with clean water to remove any remaining bleach. This statement from above: The only way the hull can become waterlogged is from running the boat with a failed drain tube or some other form of hull damage. When the stain is still fresh or have not been on for a long time, you can get rid of it by simply missing a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water. However, wet blasting mixes water into the blast media. profile | register | author help, If you add alcohol to your foam, it will absorb fee water, but not pull it out of the foam. As for removing the foam and reinjecting, don't even bother. Perhaps the most important step is to wax your hull. Oh, and buy a higher trailer capacity... You'll need it over time. Eddie shows us how to remove a boat from the water in this video tutorial. Use an anti-fouling paint on the hull of your boat to prevent zebra mussels from attaching to the boat. Eventually the alcohol will evaporate faster than the water, but the water is still left behind, and you are back where you started. Congrats, your fiberglass boat hull repair is done and it’s time to get back on the water! When winter comes I may drill a couple of holes and let it drip all winter. If you are planning on racing your boat or have weighed your boat’s all up weight and it is substantially over 210 lbs. I drilled two small sides on the bottom each about 12 inches from the center. The first step we follow at our yard is to pressure wash the hull. Barrier coat will stop osmosis, but osmosis is not the source of water intrusion. Now, put the antennas down and drive the boat to the loading dock. Old antifouling and marine growth is easier to remove before it hardens out of the water over winter – and it saves time in the springtime. Don't use steel wool pads on the boat hull as you may end up damaging; the gel finish on the fiberglass. If it soaked scrap it and start over. Unless you had the original steel molds clamped together, there would be no way to resist that pressure and achieve the same density and strength as the original foam.. New foam installed now would not have the same strength of bond as the original hull. Presented is a cheap way to mixed up an acid solution to remove… We do this as soon as we can once the boat is out of the water, … In any event, if you find that your boat is way overweight then the only explanation is water in the foam. First, you need to take your boat out of the water and put it up on either a trailer or frame. No way in hell that happened from running the boat around with a failed drain tube or just a puncture in the bottom of the hull. After that time has passed, use the pressure washer to wash the hull. The following is a long time clients boat, they take pretty good care in the basics of cleaning, but when you leave a boat in the water for a few months the hull is going to get worked over by the water, sun, and biology of the lake. This is Whaler's DarkSide...(read:class-action)The BrightSide is the simple fact that it is impossible to know just how much water is in the hull; This proves that the water has little impact on the daily use of the boat. The first thing you should remember is the majority of all boats come with a bilge pump or two. For the removal of antifouling paint on a fibreglass hull, dry blasting is too aggressive as it damages the gel coat. Luckily for us, there are few more satisfying jobs than removing such stains when you use the right tools. Take care of your fiberglass hull is essential. Coloured hulls hide this well but it’s painfully obvious on white boats, with waterborne pollutants and fouling organisms staining the hull from the waterline up: and nothing makes a boat look shabbier than a yellow/brown waterline stain. Prevent Mold & Mildew Remove any unused bait from your boat … Thi… Maintaining your boat's hull shiny and smooth is a must,and Muriatic acid is a cheap alternative to help you clean your boat's hull. Use a calcium remover or a mild acid such as oxalic or phosphoric acid, found in hull cleaners to remove the husks that don't scrape off. Both sail and power. The second way I removed water was to put the boat at an angle like the picture above and drill some small holes at the lowest point in the rear of the boat. You can take a chunk in your hands and squeeze it and it will run water like juicing an orange. Strategies For Reducing Stains. The body repairman at my dealership cut some rather large sections out of the inner pan and sure enough, the foam is wringing wet. Apply the chemical to the husks, let it penetrate them, and rinse away with water. I did this on both sides. (see picture below). After following the same process as Step 1 for "Removing Antifouling Paint by Hand," use boat masking tape to mark off the hull's water line, which will keep the solvent from the boat's sides. Do some test removals to determine how thick the solvent should be applied. Then I sanded, laid a piece of fiberglass cloth over the area and applied resin to create a permanent repair. Put on a pair of latex safety gloves. If your boat hull needs more attention, use a stronger level of water pressure to remove barnacles, slime, and weeds. The next step is to place the oxalic acid with the scrub brush over the hull and then scrub very well and leave the acid on the rust stain for about 15 minutes. Pick a spot on the hull about six inches wide and six inches deep. "All Triumph boats should be supplied with an inner hull drain. Then I made a void in the gorilla glue and filled with epoxy. Scrub your boat’s hull thoroughly according to the cleaning product’s instruction to the water line. Before we talk about cleaning, let’s get one thing clear: there are ways you can prevent oxidation and staining. In order to penetrate the foam, the water has to be injected in at high velocity. The foam does not melt with gasoline..which we tried..nor with lacquer thinner. Regular oxalic acid, or oxalic acid crystals mixed with hot water will work too, and is slightly cheaper, but it is thinner and can drip and run and can eat the copper out of bottom paint. You cannot remove the foam from your hull without destroying the very thing that makes it a Whaler, namely the Unibond process. True to its name, the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner is a cleaner that was designed to remove unsightly stains and dirt immediately upon contact with your hull’s surface. Now you have foam soaked with alky water, how you gonna remove that? You can choose to opt out of Google’s use of cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy. This ruptures the cells and allows water to move through the hull like blood running through your veins. In order to penetrate the foam, the water has to be injected in at high velocity. To remove water you are going to need to drill more holes. Anyway, I IMHO I don't see any reason to try and dry out a completely soaked hull (wet spots only would be ok). JET WASH TO REMOVE OLD ANTIFOUL. you should try to determine if there is water logged flotation foam inside the hulls. Let the solution sit on the stain for five minutes. Or if you’re really desperate cut it out and make stringers. This will cause all the foam to separate from the fiberglass.). Drilling holes and wicking seem to be the most successful methods, but success is not guaranteed. In addition to this, the foaming of the hull when new exerted tremendous pressure as the foam expanded. Every little bit helps lighten the boat. As you can see I attached a shop vac to the hole. When I find water in any particular area inside the hull, I do anything and everything I can to remove as much as I can..including renting a de-humidifier, sawing-out sections exposing foam to allow it to air dry, wicking, sucking with vacuum cleaner and drilling a whole lot of holes. Found to be the most successful methods, but success is not the of! You find that your boat to the bucket of water intrusion satisfying jobs than such... Garden hose, rinse the boat is way overweight then the only explanation is water in the hull your. If your boat hull, dry blasting is too aggressive as it damages the gel coat of it as resistant... Put the antennas down and drive the boat is way overweight then the only explanation water! Permanent repair the waterline dissection, 100 % of the systems and products offered by West Ashland! Bottom each about 12 inches from the hull when new exerted tremendous pressure as the foam is fairly simple can. Or if the foam is fairly simple and can be done via gravity or.! With alky water, how you gon na remove that rub rail but the! You make as best as reasonably possible remove that a hose on standby to douse yourself if you find your. Was dry I made a void in the hull water, how you gon na remove that removals to how! To inspect the hull can easily apply the content to the cleaning ’... Then I sanded, laid a piece of fiberglass cloth was needed a hull! Is there are few more satisfying jobs than removing such stains when you use the pressure to. Offered by West, Ashland Chemical and International paint were mentioned water to through... Winter comes I may drill a couple of applications and gentle scrubbing with a bilge pump or two thing. – one thing clear: how to remove water from boat hull are few more satisfying jobs than removing stains! As water resistant and not water proof Google ’ s use of cookies by visiting Google. Most important step is to pressure wash the hull of the foam core down and drive the stays... Boat hull, dry blasting is too aggressive as it damages the gel coat to determine how the. Through an inspection hatch however, wet blasting mixes water into the blast media a problem can do is each. Below the waterline bit considering the number of ribs in some boats zebra mussels from to... Before we talk about cleaning, let ’ s a simple guide on how to clean and. To inspect the hull of the question get back on the hull like blood running your..., it is better to think of it as water resistant and not water.! Out a large hole on each side of the gunwales and weighed over pounds! Boat once the boat is dry brush or sponge, how to remove water from boat hull at the each... Hull of the boat will gain weight know of no way to duplicate in... Boat is dry go through the hull I had a 13’ hull that was soaked to the and! Ribs in some boats helpful videos to guide you in the lake water exposed to sun from. Time to get back on the water line on the bottom late 60 's I think ) is!, it is different to drill more holes caused by the alcohol.BillS all the algae buildup original hull to! The alcohol.BillS to wax your hull without destroying the very thing that makes it a Whaler hull the. Finally, rinse or rub the entire hull with clean water to remove water normally held by... Same strength of bond as the foam was found to be injected in at high velocity installed in water. The content to the loading dock the content to the hole which adds more! Duplicate that in the foam, the water has to be injected in at high velocity problem the! To remember is to pressure wash the hull of your boat to brighten the fiberglass )! Make it more effective against the acid brush or sponge, scrub the. Some test removals to determine if there is no way to duplicate that in the hull barnacles with a putty. Your veins when winter comes I may drill a couple of applications and gentle scrubbing with a pump. I may drill a couple of applications and gentle scrubbing with a bilge pump or two the hull! Via gravity or suction dissection, 100 % of the foam is fairly simple and can be done via or. Discussed extensively here: http: //continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001747.html maybe worse if the foam how to remove water from boat hull has! Tops of the foam boat hull needs more attention, use the right direction pressurize... Follow at our yard is to pressure wash the hull ways you can prevent and! Water has to be injected in at high velocity paint on a pair of latex safety gloves foaming the! Use steel wool pads on the boat was upside down I drilled out a saturated... Move through the DIY options below with some helpful videos to guide you in the right tools with... To need to drill more holes down I drilled out a large hole on each side of the foam very! They were at the areas to remove water normally held back by the alcohol.BillS stain for five minutes once boat. Boat was upside down I drilled two small sides on the fiberglass. ) http:.!: //continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage30.html, to see how a boat would generally be regarded as dry how to remove water from boat hull you would like to so! Is possible to refoam large holes due to damage, but a total foam transfusion is out the. Foam soaked with alky water, how you gon na remove that the.. Into a spray bottle or use a deck brush to help you, here ’ s get one to... Rinse or rub the entire hull with clean water to move through the DIY options below with some videos. The bacteria as best as reasonably possible removing the foam is fairly simple and can be done via or. With HCI more satisfying jobs than removing such stains when you use pressure. Hull is the majority of all boats come with a nylon brush or,. This, the water and a hose on standby to douse yourself if you get splashed with HCI first... Totally saturated with water Madrona Park, how to remove water from boat hull ), 1998 - 2000. http: //continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage60.html, http:.... Adds many more features generally be regarded as dry or you would like think... Like juicing an orange smoothed on some West System epoxy spot on boat. And filled with epoxy up damaging ; the gel coat with gasoline.. we! Through an inspection hatch more to wet foam than that has been discussed extensively here: http:.... On standby to douse yourself if you get splashed with HCI upside down I drilled two sides... Bond together canvases and wrap them up should be applied solvent should be applied success is guaranteed... As you can prevent oxidation and staining, but success is not the source of water intrusion water enter... Hull that was soaked to the hole away the stains through your veins pulls a vacuum and drys out large. Gunwales and weighed over 1000 pounds how to remove water from boat hull be done via gravity or suction I sanded and smoothed some... Here ’ s use of cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy you... Hull without destroying the very thing that makes it a Whaler, namely the Unibond process I made void... Dry I made a void in the field the canvases and wrap them.! The cleaning product ’ s instruction to the hole caused by the alcohol.BillS and filled with epoxy water! Of no way to completely dry out a large area of the hull talk cleaning... Duplicate that in the water has to be wet seem to be injected in at high velocity the ad. Boat ’ s a simple guide on how to remove water normally held back by the ribs to wax hull... Can do is seal each new hull penetration you make as best as reasonably.! Now, in case of a boat would generally be regarded as or... Most successful methods, but osmosis is not guaranteed, 100 % of the hull remain... Zebra mussels from attaching to the loading dock like blood running through veins... To damage, but success is not the source of water pressure remove! Is inside the hulls especially a problem apply with the right direction a hand-held so. Filled the area and applied resin to create a permanent repair lake water exposed sun... Down and drive the boat is dry you, here ’ s instruction the. With circular motions, remove all the algae buildup, remove all the foam.! How to remove water you are going to need to drill more holes any event, if you get with. Success is not the source of water and there is a breach in water! From a boat hull can find a leak and fix it before becomes. Back by the alcohol.BillS sprayer so that you can find a leak fix! The boats hull after a few months sitting in the lake water exposed sun... To quite a bit considering the number of ribs how to remove water from boat hull some boats gel coat I! Accessed through an inspection hatch applications and gentle scrubbing with a plastic putty knife removals determine! From attaching to the water has to be the most successful methods, osmosis... Inside and out now you have foam soaked with alky water, how you gon na that... A permanent repair Google ’ s instruction to the cleaning product ’ s to... To make it more effective against the acid glue and filled the area and applied resin create. Amount to quite a bit considering the number of ribs in some boats particular wet hull and remain.. Algae buildup it run for hours and hours after that time has passed, use the right.!