Carolina Skiff Repair

[fishinfool]

I have a '97 Carolina Skiff J14 CC. I am the 2nd or 3rd owner.(Probly 2nd). I am still finding after 1 1/2 years, more evidence of neglect by the previous owner.
The expandable foam flotation has become saturated with water. The deck is in need of some repair from previous holes that were not properly sealed and a splash well is needed. Over the weekend I found one of JT51's hidden rocks that gouged the gel coat and knocked off the transom mounted transducer. Don't worry JT, I did not harm your rock. This is also allowing water to get to the foam. I know this because there is water still dripping from the gouge after two days.
My question is, how is the best way to access the foam in order to remove and replace it? Do I cut holes out of the floor? Do I remove and replace the floor? Do I remove and patch in the original floor? Or do I access it from the hull?
Keep in mind that I still want to install a splash well to hold that quart or so of water that always seems to collect in the middle of the boat. I really do not like that puddle. If the floor needs to be removed it will make running trolling motor wires easier as well as moving the control cables to a flush mounted situation instead of above the deck as they are now.
Any and all suggestions and ideas are welcome,
FF

[Redbelly]

You may want to visit the carolins skiff owners forum. Type it in google and you'll find it.

[Reel Cowboy]

http://www.carolinaskiff.com/

[bman]

I remember reading about a guy who drilled a series of holes along the transom and then tilted his boat up so the water would run out.
After a few months it dried up and he resealed all the screws and decking.

The link to the Carolina skiff owners forum is
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/

[Barhopr]

The foam is done for whether you get it dry or not. Cut out the floor and remove all of the foam and replace with new. Check on the stringers while you're in there. Once you finish...sell it. Just some advise from the previous owner of a foam soaked CS.

[What a mess]

A buddy said drill fill and drain holes fill with gas which will turn the foam liquid and it will need to be disposed of correctly.
Refoam the boat then fill the holes and your done. I have not tried this and offer no first hand knowledge this is what I was told.

[reelcatch]

Seems kind of a risky way of doing it to put gas in there. Once the foam dissolves and runs out you have a large open contain with gas fumes in it. One spark and BOOM no more boat. Just my .02 worth if I am reading it correctly.

[What a mess]

A buddy said drill fill and drain holes fill with gas which will turn the foam liquid and it will need to be disposed of correctly.
Refoam the boat then fill the holes and your done. I have not tried this and offer no first hand knowledge this is what I was told.

DON'T SMOKE WHILE DOING IT!

[fishinfool]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have been doing some research. It seems there is no easy way to do this. There also is no practical way to do it without compromising structural integrity. I am going to take the suggestion of a previous CS owner and install garboard drains to allow whatever water that gets in, to get out.
FF

[CSMarine]

I just went through the same problem with a boat. It was not a Carolina Skiff but still had the same problems. I tried all the tricks like drilling holes and draining. They don't work. Ended up having to cut the floor out, pulling all the wet foam out, replacing stringers, then re-foaming and re-flooring. It will never dry out by just drilling drain holes.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

WHAT CSMARINE SAID, YOU WILL NEVER GET ALL OF THE WATER OUT OF FOAM THAT HAS BEEN SOAKED WITH WATER. GO ALL THE WAY TO THE HULL INSIDE, TAKE OUT EVRYTHING, SET OUT IN SUN FOR A WEEK BEFORE REPLACING THE STRINGERS, FOAM, SOLE, AND WIRING. WHEN THIS IS COMPLETED COMPLETELY ENCAPSULATE THE ENTIRE BOTTOM INCLUDING THE STRINGERS, THE SOLE AND ATTACHMENT FOR THE CONSOLE TO BE BOLTED TO OR FIBERGLASSED TO THE SOLE. LOTS,LOTS, OF WORK, YOU WILL NEVER GET OUT OF THE BOAT WHAT YOU WILL PUT INTO IT TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA SEMPER FI