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    cutting foam with a pressure washer
    #1
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    just found an old wellcraft owners forum, and the guy on there used a pressure washer to cut the foam from around the fuel tank , anyone ever try this? I have an 3200 psi pressure washer, I might try it today
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    #2
    Charter Member phragle's Avatar
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    only worry would be that much pressure...causing water intrusion on a stringer...
    P-4077 "The Swamp" S.B.Y.C. and Michigan medboat mothership
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    #3
    Registered Trim'd Up's Avatar
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    Just go get a cheap electric chainsaw. It works great and you won't hurt the glass unless your REALLY trying to. I bought mine for 39 bucks at home depot.
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    #4
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by phragle View Post
    only worry would be that much pressure...causing water intrusion on a stringer...
    they are already soaked in gas


    Quote Originally Posted by Trim'd Up View Post
    Just go get a cheap electric chainsaw. It works great and you won't hurt the glass unless your REALLY trying to. I bought mine for 39 bucks at home depot.
    a chainsaw is your answer to everything
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    #5
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    Just do it. High pressure water is used to cut all kinds of stuff now. All the way up to steel, in ground gas tanks, concrete etc. At one of the companies I ran, all of the fiberglass insulation board is cut by 40,000 psi water jets. Does a real nice job. We could hold + .010.

    The foam in your boat is closed cell, therefore it, in theory, cannot absorb water and you will not cause any issues with the foam left in. You can buy closed cell foam kits to reinstall it, they are a little expensive for what it seems you get, but all insulating foam you purchase at a hardware store is not closed cell foam and should not be used in a boat.

    That small amount of pressure won't hurt anything else it touches unless you hold it stationary for an extended period. Even the waves will make a rock round given enough time. I would just make sure you have it set at the minimum amount of water you're washer will allow without overheating the pump.

    Heck, 3200psi you could take a shower with.....
    Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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    #6
    Registered Trim'd Up's Avatar
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    IT just seems like it would be a freakin' mess to blow all of the wet foam all over the place. Better wear a rainsuit. Bob, don't be afraid of the chainsaw. I am getting ready to surface my heads with it next.
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    #7
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    it is done , 10 minutes with the pressure washer (3750 psi) and the tank popped right out ,shop vac and I am ready for a new tank, some holes in the old one , here are some pics
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails boat gas tank 001.jpg   boat gas tank 006.jpg   boat gas tank 007.jpg  

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    #8
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    there was sh i t everywhere, my buddy wore a scuba mask ,the whole boat was covered in foam bits but it hosed right out , and wallah ! clean bilge
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails boat gas tank 008.jpg  
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    #9
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    my camera was in the cooler so the first pic is cloudy
    Parabellum FJ²B
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    #10
    Founding Member / Competitor MOBILEMERCMAN's Avatar
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    Bobcat, may I make a suggestion?

    It would be good to add a drain pipe through the tank cell area. Glass the pvc pipe in place and seal each end to keep bilge water out and allow forward areas to drain.
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    #11
    Founding Member Buoy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MOBILEMERCMAN View Post
    Bobcat, may I make a suggestion?

    It would be good to add a drain pipe through the tank cell area. Glass the pvc pipe in place and seal each end to keep bilge water out and allow forward areas to drain.
    Good Call!
    Now is the time to do it.
    "Keep the bottle on the bar Ira, I won't be long".
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    #12
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    Nice job. Now, did you find a replacement tank?
    Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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    #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcat View Post
    I have an 3200 psi pressure washer, I might try it today
    Who the hell in their right mind sold that to you?? Way too much power for a man of your mental capacity

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    #14
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MarylandMark View Post
    Who the hell in their right mind sold that to you?? Way too much power for a man of your mental capacity

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails spitcoffee.gif  
    Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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    #15
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MOBILEMERCMAN View Post
    Bobcat, may I make a suggestion?

    It would be good to add a drain pipe through the tank cell area. Glass the pvc pipe in place and seal each end to keep bilge water out and allow forward areas to drain.
    there was one there already, just needs cleaning up

    Quote Originally Posted by Buoy View Post
    Good Call!
    Now is the time to do it.
    suck up

    Quote Originally Posted by Ratickle View Post
    Nice job. Now, did you find a replacement tank?
    waiting on a quote from the oem
    Quote Originally Posted by MarylandMark View Post
    Who the hell in their right mind sold that to you?? Way too much power for a man of your mental capacity


    just a click of a button and dolphin pics for all

    Quote Originally Posted by Ratickle View Post
    suck up#2
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    #16
    Founding Member Tony's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ratickle View Post

    The foam in your boat is closed cell, therefore it, in theory, cannot absorb water and you will not cause any issues with the foam left in. You can buy closed cell foam kits to reinstall it, they are a little expensive for what it seems you get, but all insulating foam you purchase at a hardware store is not closed cell foam and should not be used in a boat.

    :
    Go to any of the Whaler forums and ask about closed cell foam and water.

    Theres a guy up in Marathon who builds aluminum tanks to your specs, for the life of me I cant remember his name, Im thinking the shop was somewhere near the Stuffed Pig.
    Last edited by Tony; 04-14-2009 at 06:14 PM.
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    #17
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tony View Post
    Go to any of the Whaler forums and ask about closed cell foam and water.

    Theres a guy up in Marathon who builds aluminum tanks to your specs, for the life of me I cant remember his name, Im thinking the shop was somewhere near the Stuffed Pig.
    That's why I said, "in theory".......


    It is definitely better though....
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    #18
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tony View Post
    Go to any of the Whaler forums and ask about closed cell foam and water.

    Theres a guy up in Marathon who builds aluminum tanks to your specs, for the life of me I cant remember his name, Im thinking the shop was somewhere near the Stuffed Pig.
    cool , will look ,would much rather buy local

    Quote Originally Posted by Ratickle View Post
    That's why I said, "in theory".......


    It is definitely better though....
    ppppppppfffffffffffffffftttttttttttt!
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    #19
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    tank back in but the fuel fill line is cracked,going to install a new one on tuesday and go boating instead of working !!!!!!!! the last pic is of a key west woodpecker,that little bastage worked on the aluminum part of that light for 20 minutes,I was hungover and it was going right through my brain!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails new tank 001.jpg   new tank 003.jpg   new tank 002.jpg  

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    #20
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcat View Post
    tank back in but the fuel fill line is cracked,going to install a new one on tuesday and go boating instead of working !!!!!!!! the last pic is of a key west woodpecker,that little bastage worked on the aluminum part of that light for 20 minutes,I was hungover and it was going right through my brain!
    He must of been drunk to not figure out it was aluminum instead of wood.

    Typical Key Wester......
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