How To ?! Splitting a foam-filled or foam core boat?

**home made tunnel** · 03-05-2019, 08:05 PM

So I've got this clunker jetboat that's been sitting in the side yard for a couple years. Motor runs fine, but the rail was smashed into a pylon, and a lot of water got in. The boat is extremely waterlogged because it's foam filled with crappy bayliner open-cell foam.

Has anyone ever split the rubrail off and separated upper and lower hull halves from a foam-filled or foam core boat?
I know boston whalers are all foam filled, but I searched a long time and couldn't find any examples of them being split apart.

This 14' bayliner Jazz I have looks like an absolute bear to split to remove the old waterlogged foam.

I know most will say pull out the chainsaw and scrap it haha, but the thing owes me nothing and I'm all out of projects. Time to tinker!

Here's a picture of a newer boston whaler foam-filled that I can use as an example... and a picture of the bayliner Jazz jetboat I've got.

Click image for larger version.

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**home made tunnel** · 03-07-2019, 04:37 PM

Really? Nobody has pulled one apart? Guess I'm going to have to do it myself and document it.
It's either going to turn into a restoration thread of another crappy Bayliner... OR get chopped up via chainsaw to the dump haha.

**FMP** · 03-07-2019, 04:42 PM

?? Piano wire from side to side, pulling back and forth through the foam, bow to stern or reverse , two people. Hope it doesn't get hung up?
Old band saw blade with handles on ends?
Or just cut the floor around the perimeter and peel it like a blue banana?

**home made tunnel** · 03-07-2019, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by FMP

?? Piano wire from side to side, pulling back and forth through the foam, bow to stern or reverse , two people. Hope it doesn't get hung up?
Old band saw blade with handles on ends?
Or just cut the floor around the perimeter and peel it like a blue banana?

piano wire may be the trick. I’m going to try this weekend

**FMP** · 03-07-2019, 05:01 PM

Probably need a long broom handle or like to get behind it and maybe help the direction if possible?
Seems like another labour of love, brothers!

**home made tunnel** · 03-07-2019, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by FMP

Probably need a long broom handle or like to get behind it and maybe help the direction if possible?
Seems like another labour of love, brothers!

Easy and cheap to find busted up bayliners with Force motors. I live on the cheap! haha.
How about putting an outboard bracket on the back of a jetboat, and slap on a 150hp force?

hahaha

**FMP** · 03-07-2019, 05:13 PM

Not a bad plan , but I'd try the tunnel first

**XstreamVking** · 03-07-2019, 05:33 PM

Easier to start from scratch and build one....That foam is tenacious. If it is completely foam filled, you are in for the fight of your life.

**sharpeye Mike** · 03-07-2019, 06:17 PM

That sucks because most bass boats are built like this and they will end up in our dumps

**CUDA** · 03-07-2019, 06:34 PM

Saw Zaw

wide blade air hammer

Foam sucks 25 years ago I bought a Stratos full of water.

**Capt.Insane-o** · 03-07-2019, 06:39 PM

**FMP** · 03-07-2019, 06:50 PM

That blue and black one comes with a setback in place

**Bodhi** · 03-08-2019, 03:52 AM

I'm always for a boat being saved, but I'll have to agree with some of the comments above on it being a real pain the ass nightmare. I pulled a partially foamed core glastron 20 ft floor apart.......literally bit by bit, after an hour of shredding and digging I had a 2'x2' section done. Best of luck to you on this project trail