Don't use Pour Foam! PSA

Hey man, loved the video and I totally agree about poor foam being a bad idea. I'm also not entirely sold on the better stuff (pink foam sheets), but it's much better. I had a relative that wanted foam in his boat, so I installed the pink foam sheets, but since I was worried it might trap water/moisture, I shimmed the "pink sheets" with just 4 pieces of 1/16" thick aluminum flat stock we had (think it was 1 inch wide), epoxied to the floor, and I cut the foam short of the sides so the water could get from the sides and go uninterrupted towards the middle. I also cut the floor about 1/8" short of the sides, so that now, there's no way for water to get trapped anywhere other than how the hull was designed and moisture can evaporate with the weather freely. It looks a bit ugly, but if you do EVA on the side walls, you won't ever notice it unless you crouch and search for it.

Great info sir! Thank you for sharing this huge issue!

Great info, man! I have a 9 yr old 1648 Tracker also that I am redoing, and I didn't want the labor of removing the floor, but I am considering doing just that after watching this. Thanks again!

Excellent video Matt. I totally agree with you about the pour foam. It’s useless to have it in your boat if it retains moisture in it. It’s like they want it to cause damage to your boat so you will buy a new one instead of repairing it.

Great video, Matt! I like the idea of you designing and building your own line of all-welded hull boats, which could include many of the features you add for tournament fishing! This might be something worth looking into. I have been thinking, why is it that nobody, to my knowledge, has ever built an all-welded aluminum kayak hull. There would be no need for scuppers with a raised deck and a bilge pump. It could be powered by an electric outboard or gas outboard or even a pedal drive on the transom like the Nucanoe Pivot Drive, you could put a Xi3 trolling motor on the front, anyway, just a thought! Keep up the great work, take care and be safe!

Dude all your builds are awesome. Wish I was closer to get 1 built by u.

i have a lowe 16 big jon only foam is in benches and it doesnt touch the bottom so it drains nicely

Build your own boats. Might end up being the top of the line mainstream brand. Quality and reliability will be there.

First thing on your boats subfloor? Dimpled residential basement subfloor membrane. Never rot, crack, corrode, shrink 100% waterproof and lets your entire boats flooring surface drain. You can pour your pour foam directly on top of it and its good for the life of your boat.

I will agree, the foam is a concern and really does need addressed!!! Be Safe

Good video bro

I agree with you, get rid of pour foam. I own a Gator Trax Strike Series, built in Louisiana, 100% no foam in my boat. Coast Guard approved, 3/16 hull, love it.

Literally just saw ur sticker on ur car bro lol nice content! Don't worry bro I'll sub I gotchu!

many boats running around with up to 1000 lbs of wet, dirty, sandy, salty foam, even if it looks dry on top, its soaked on bottom never dries.

You should do the coast guard calculations and see how many cubic feet of foam those boats have to have. It’s crazy. Probably close to 20 cubic feet in a 16’ boat. That’s why they pour foam. Let’s them take advantage of every inch. Like you said, they just try to pass tests and don’t care about longevity. Don’t even get me started on the tracker “float pods”

What about hard plastic sealed bladders in those hollows of benches and side panels.may be harder to replace but still provide floatation just like blue pontoon barrels for docks!!snookie pa.

Where can we buy the aluminum extrusion for the dry hatches? It’s been a few years since I’ve built some and can’t find a source. Mucho appreciated for any info.

My boat is 475 lighter after removing the old wet foam from it. In an 18' jet boat that makes a world of difference.

Is it better to have no foam at all? I always thought that helped keep it from totally sinking if it filled up with water.

Ya sucks how they get away with this shit. I hear you and agree