I recently bought a 1644 go devil boat and pulled the foam from the floor right away. Took me few hours but finally got it all out. I filled up an XL wheeled trashcan and i was not able to movie it by myself. I estimate it was over 300 pounds. I replaced the foam in the floor from closed cell foam from home depot. Now that season is over I am wondering if I should remove the rear pods on the inside of the gunnels and the foam from the bow. I know this is supposed to hold the boat up in case of capsize. But if its waterlogged is it worth keeping. Boat is a 1996 so its got some years on it.

The only way I can think of to test the foam if its still usable is it strip the boat of everything (motor, lights electronics) and pull the plug and see what happens. If it sinks the foam is useless, and if it floats it may still serve it purpose.

Opinions on this?
any one go through the same thoughts?

I hate giving up all the space that the gunnel and nose foam eat up. However, the is only one responsible course of action. This is, to replace the waterlogged foam with new, better, foam. Any other action involves excess risk beyond what is reasonable for me personally.

It's odd that the three times I've removed foam from boats, they've all either been waterlogged, or vermin infested. It seems like some innovation is desperately needed here.

I appreciate your input. The think is if i do remove the foam I doubt I will replace it. Cutting that big of a hole in the bow to remove it, i would rather put a hatch on it and make it storage. But then i need to brace the top of the deck.

What do you think about testing the foam by trying to sink the boat? After removing motor and such. If it does not float without the motor there is no chance it would with the extra weight.

That way I know i made the right decision.

The side and front floatation usually last a little longer than the floor. The floor floatation is garbage 100% of the time. There is no way to prevent it from getting water. In the back your boat you should be able to reach in and feel the floatation under the pops.
I left my floatation in for now but eventually will remove it. If you do not care about floatation then remove the extra weight. There is tons of storage space you can add by not having floatation. You can use a life jacket for your floatation.

Life jacket and insurance. I still have to front deck and rear pod floatation but I doubt it'll hold up my motor and battery.


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Testing by attempted sinking would certainly answer part of the question. But the 265lb MM on the back not being there would introduce too much uncertainty, in my opinion.

I always dream of a commercial hull where I can order a nice new one, just the way I like without the flotation. However, no one can convince me that that's the safest play.

Sinking your boat would water log any floatation that is not already water logged. They used a different floatation back then and it sucked

My foam looked good at first till I started removing it then it was very water logged in the front 3/4 of the bow. I didn't replace mine, but I don't run deep water due to 18" sides. But if you plan on running deep water I'd replace it I were you. Here's a pic of what mine was like before I started chipping away. Didn't look wet at all at first but then I found it after I broke in about 2 feet.

Oh boy. I bought a used 1999 Go Devil boat and the bow was so heavy you couldn't lift it off the trailer. The first thing I did was drilled out the rivets and removed the flotation from the floor. I then used a cutoff wheel on my slag grinder and cut about a 15" x 24" hole in the front. I pulled out a handful of the blown in foam and could literally wring water out of it. So I used a power washer and cut it up and sucked it out with a shop vacuum. I'd bet I removed 500# total of wet insulation from the floor and front.

I then replaced MOST of it, including the floor, with styrofoam. I didn't do anything with the back pods. I know you're not supposed to put styrofoam where it'll come in contact with gas, as it'll dissolve. But I have had boats all my life and have NEVER spilled gas in any of my boats, EVER...

I can now lift the front of the boat off the trailer and have floatation up there, as well as in the floor. I don't think you'd need to worry about having the foam in there to support the weight of someone climbing on the front deck or using the pedestal seat if there is one because the metal is pretty thick/heavy. I climbed on mine with the foam gone and even tried to bend the metal, where the pedestal seat is mounted, which I think was distorted and bent from the foam expanding inside the front and wasn't able to do it. It didn't flex a bit without it. Should you remove it from your boat? That's up to you. I don't regret doing so. The only reason I put styrofoam in it is because my wife told me too. LOL

Cut a hole in the top of your rear pods. Big enough to stick a soil probe in. Then you use a soil probe to take a core sample of your foam. If it's dry all the way down chances are you're not waterlogged. Then fill your core with a little great stuff foam and seal the top with 5200. If it's water logged then turn them pods into gun boxes.


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I appreciate all the help and answers guys trully do. Next question I would have is is it better to cut the bow like it hollow or put a hatch on it so it's closed storage. Open is nice as the picture in the post shows. Opinions

The only time you'll regret removing the foam is if your boat sinks. Other that you won't be disappointed.


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All my foam was bone dry. Glad I got rid of it though, the room is nice. Just use your noggin when running and wear your life vest.

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I don't know about your boat, but I have a large front deck. After I removed the foam I had to beef up my deck and the support. I don't regret it I love the extra storage

Bunch o led you guys look like your keeping it open rather than putting a hatch or anything. Why?

Easier access. And I put my gas tank infront.

Ive had a couple people tell me if i do dual 1500 GPH bilges with auto switch as well as manual there should be no way waves, rain, leaving plugs out, etc etc should ever sink it. How accurate is this? Seems that if i wear a life vest anytime im running water deeper than waist deep and dont do anything dumb with the dual bilges i should be safe. On a side note, anyone know if an inflatable (or other type) PFD has enough flotation to keep a man with waders from drowning? That would be my main fear is the added weight etc if you ended up in the water with waders on

Most waders are less dense than water, so they are buoyant. They can cause you to catch a current more than not wearing waders, but they will not make you heavier in water.

Interesting, i dunno where but i had always kinda heard the if your waders filled with water you better watch out. Maybe ill have to try it in the pool sometime lol

Edit: dunno where i ever heard that (although i do believe i read a thread on here about flotation wherre someone mentioned taking a swim ith waders on adn it was scary) but after a quick google search i feel like an idiot...water on the inside of the waders and outside are the same weight and density guess maybe what i had heard/read more related to the extra weight of when you clothes under your waders get wet.

Anyway, sorry for getting off topic a bit

The problem with water in those or even hip boots is when you try to get back in the boat or up on the bank. That is when the water becomes heavy. When you are under water it really does not make a difference. I know this because my dad sunk my ass in a canoe with hip boots on. I had to drop them down in the water so that I can get on the bank.

I tried it in the summer, put all my winter gear on and jumped in with out a vest in a little deeper than I could stand in and I didn't drown but if you're not wearing a vest and you get knocked out your screwed or I can imagine if the water is cold. Lesson is to always wear your vest when under way with hunting gear ob


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I hope to never be in that situation, glad you made it out of yours ok, but its good to gather this info and be prepared just in case since obviously no one does plan on sh!t happening. At least its good to know that if you wear your PFD you may have issues with cold water etc but theres a good chance you wont drown simply because of not being able to keep afloat or swim well

"Life jackets and insurance are all well and good, but when you consider the fact that where you go down may very well be where you remain until help arrives, wouldn't you rather have the boat to stand on, some flares to shoot, and maybe even a cell phone to call out with?"

Yes, life jackets most certainly are well and good. Since swimming is difficult with waders or even with just a heavy hunting jacket, a life jacket is key. Some hunters, such as myself, don't hunt in big water or freezing weather and I'm never far from shore, so having floatation in a boat won't help save my life. I don't carry insurance on my boat because if my boat is lost, I won't be happy about it, but I would buy another boat. The only thing I care deeply about is my life and that of my hunting partners and having floatation on my boat doesn't affect that. I'd rather have the extra space on my boat and weight savings than having foam that doesn't make any difference to my life in my type of hunting conditions. Everybody hunts in different conditions, so the smart decision will vary.

Regarding having enough pump capacity to pump your way free of sinking.. I was born and raised in a really windy place (Kansas) and twice I've been in a boat that was heavily loaded (overloaded) that took a wave over the bow. I'd say that when that happens the pumps just cannot move enough water before the next wave hits.

Too often we overload our waterfowl rigs. I'm as guilty as most.

Anyone who has almost drown will tell you a PFD jacket IS a LIFE jacket.

One time when I was a high school senior a bunch of us skipped school in early spring (believe it was in late March but it was over 40 years ago so I could be wrong) and went canoeing on the Pine River in Northern Lower Michigan. It was warm for that time of the year, probably 45 - 50 degrees but when we drove the 150 miles North there was a late season snowstorm that dumped about 8 -10 inches of fresh snow on us and the temps were in the 30's the following morning.

Being dumbass kids, we put the canoes in the water, kissed our girlfriends goodbye and off we went. We'd been on this river many times before in the summer when the water was slow and low but had never saw the water as high and as fast as it was. We had all our spare clothes tied in plastic garbage bags, tied to the gunnel supports and were wearing a few layers of winter clothes, including snowmobile boots, heavy warm coats, stocking hats and gloves and mittens. I'm surprised none of us drowned when we rounded a bend and hit sweeper in the fast current and dumped the canoes. we were all pretty good swimmer back then and I had all I could do to get out of that current and back onto the shore. It was as if someone had me by the ankles and was pulling me under. I struggled for several minutes before getting out of that current and into shallow water where we could stand up. We all told each other later how we were amazed how much our clothes weighed and everyone knew we were lucky to be alive.

And after we got out of the water and made sure everyone was alright, the four of us had to go BACK into the water to drag the canoes out of the river. Thank God they had flotation in them. They were full of water to the tips of each end and it took all of us to drag just one of them to shore. Even after drying off, building a fire and changing our clothes, we still spent several COLD hours on the river to get to where there was a couple vans parked with some warm bodies to snuggle up to that night to keep us warm. Thank goodness the girls were where we told them to be.

So I guess the moral of the story is don't be a dumbass and neglect to wear a life jacket when you think you might be doing something even remotely stupid that could cause you to end up in the water.

And the other thing to make note of is to ALWAYS make sure you tie the beer coolers to the boat. We had to chase coolers, paddles and boat cushions for a couple hours to retrieve all that stuff. And when coolers are filled with beer they don't float all that well.

Learn how to drive a boat and use common sense and flotation is not needed but I do suggest buying a float coat it will save ur life

I took a dive out of my pirogue this year with neoprene waders and no wading belt. I was in roughly waist deep water + Louisiana mud/muck. Luckily it was early season and there was grass mats everywhere. The water in waders made me buoyant and I kind of floated on the grass in pond and was able to tip over and drain the 12' pirogue and kind of rock myself back in. It still had a couple inches in it, but certainly able to paddle it back to boat. Freaked me out more than anything. Had I been without waders I think I would of just swam rather than attempting to get back in the pirogue. Only time I ever wished I was in a boat blind last year.


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