I know its been beat up a million times, and yes I searched it but couldn't find exactly what i was looking for. I have a 60" wide boat with the large seat/pods in the back and im trying to decide if i want to cut them out completely all together or cut them both in half for a gun box on each side. Not sure yet though thinking more towards cutting them all together.
My question is what all exactly do i need?

Planning on using a grinder with a cutting wheel to cut the aluminum.

A sawzaw to cut the foam out a brick at a time so I don't make a huge mess, or is the rotating pressure washer still a better way?

Will a regular grinder work for makeing the cuts smooth with the floor of the boat?

And is there a flooring (false floor) under the seats Where the foam is, or is it straight to the bottom of the boat to where i need to get a sheet of aluminum and weld it in?

Thanks for any input

Sell it while it is still a safe and legal hull....

Use the funds to have another built to suit you....

Saw zaw won't work, pressure washer is a better option with the rotating nozzle. It's messy though !!!

Huh I figured it would. Where can i find the concert tip i've read about and how much they run?

Cut the pods out and remove. Use a pressure washer on the deck.

I have removed 70% with a zero tip removing big blocks of foam first. Then clean it up with the rotary tip. Saves ya some mess to clean up.

Turbo nozzle at lowed is what I used was like 25$ . Removed the foam effortlessly

The tip I have was about $200 but will literally cut a concrete slab on the end of a 4500+psi pump at 4.5gpm. I'd turn it down for that type of work, it would distort aluminum badly lol. The little pinpoint/laser tip like what Frog is talking about (or at least what I imagine he is describing) would do for cutting the big chunks out, and cleanup with the rotary tip.

I've never removed the GD foam but have from another boat and its a shitty pain in the ass mess lol.

Once you drill out the floor rivets and pull up the floor skin - you
will see the obvious large cross members which support your split
middle seats which are structural as well as the rib structure...

To a degree the large boxes also add strength to the hull so you
will be weakening the hull by removal of the boxes ---- properly
welded in catwalks that ran from the middle seats to the transom
could potentially put back the strength you are going to loose
by cutting away the boxes.... I have 8" front catwalks installed
by GD out of .125 and bent like 2" C channel beams welded to
my front deck and middle seat and hull gunnel... Similar catwalks
would also be functional and help put back the strength you are
going to loose when you cut away or modify the boxes....

Im not taking the floor out just the seats. The foam dont bother me i just want more driving room to work the motor..

They are riveted in not welded? I cant see any of that because of the stupid safefloor in the boat..I was just going to cut them at the base, grind it smooth(or whatever you do for aluminum), then weld in aluminum for the floor where the pods were..And adding in a brace in the corners isnt hard..

The floor is riveted in, and the pods are welded..too the floor? Where are the pods welded to at the base.

Ok i get that they add braceing..i know im not the only one who has done this. Braceing is easy and can be added back another way other than those huge pods.

Quack N Stack, the top "cap" that is welded from the side of your boat to the transom is going to be a lot/most of your support so as long as you don't cut that cap off the strength of your hull will not be sacrificed. All I did was cut the pods out at the floor and up front by the back of the seat and just bent the metal up where it is hidden in the back that way I didn't have to have those caps rewelded. I'm currently working nights but if I remember tomorrow I'll take a pic of what I did.

I'm no expert but I do not see how removing the benches will not be just as strong as a boat without them . Are you saying boats with out the benches have better support ? Not storing shit up , it's a legit question. Jw because I almost removed my benches before I decided to sale the boat. Are only the older model Go-Devil benches welded because my benches are welded in on the base and sides of the hull ?

Those floatation pods do not offer support in anyway to your hulls. the bench or split seats area does offer support. You will have zero issues removing those pods. The aluminum on the front deck is extremely thin and it is laid on top of some bracing. You could cut the thin aluminum off and remove the floatation with ease. Then you can have someone weld you a thicker aluminum on the deck. I feel that the floatation on the deck helps stop the deck from buckling. I would suggest a thicker aluminum deck if you remove that floatation.

if you know someone with a dremel tool, that's what I'd use. the bigger one would be best. you'll be able to control it more with your cuts, it has less torque and jerking that a grinder wheel. it'll also be more precise, especially when smoothening the cuts down.

Was pretty easy to cut it with a grinder .

What would yall suggest to use to grind down or smooth down the cuts? I was told a grinder will work but very difficult because it gets so hot it fills in the disk?

grind aluminum wit 4.5" 40 Grit Aluminum Oxide Flat Flap Disc on a angle grinder

I have about the same hull as you, 1656 GD with the pods in the back and your right - they are in the way. Please take some photos of you removing the pods, should be pretty simple. Everything thing I have touched on the hull has been 0.125" except the floor, its some thing crap and is supported by the foam in the floor. If you pull the floor up (remove rivets, easy to drill out) that foam in the floor can hold a good bit of water. I removed probably 100+lbs of wet foam from mine when I got it...

The pods are welded along the top, sides, and when you pull the floor you will see where they are welded to the outermost stringer too. They put them in good. I talked to GD about removing the foam and they said depending on what year the boat was built it was most likely stood on its end and the foam was poured into the pods and nose.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1426616684.116509.jpg
This is the back of the seat I have the full length seat and just had 2 lil pieces of metal welded to the back.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1426616761.483231.jpg
Back of the boat and the top part is the cap you can see we left very lil metal but I didn't want to cut the cap and have to have it rewelded.
AnImageUploadedByTapatalk1426616819.533739.jpg
And this pic is looking from the bottom of the boat up under the cap. The metal on the bottom is the pod bent up under the cap. Hope these pics help you out and if you need any more pics or help hit me up ole boy.