Re: im new please help 73 runabout
Usually the upper half of the boat (what's called the top cap) may contain parts of the deck, have the windshield attached, and a lot of other stuff.
Make sure you've separated any interior hardware, wiring, seats, etc that bridges the gap between hull and cap, then remove the rub rail. Most production boats use rivets and/or screws there, which hold the cap to the hull, along with a helping of some type of glue. The usual joint between the parts is a lap, sometimes a box joint or another shape, but basically the two parts overlap somehow.
Remove the rivets, separate the joint, then get some friends to help you lift the cap off and put it somewhere out of the way.
There's nothing tricky or magic about getting it separated, just a lot of hard work.
It helps support the hull's shape, so make sure you've got your hull supported and squared off before glassing in your stringers.. you want the whole thing to be straight.
Erik
