Cutting Fiberglass/adhesive lip

[NYGiants]

i have an older sunfish sailboat, and the wood core is rotted out, i noticed there is a lip about half inch wide that attaches the hull to the rest of the boat, (cockpit and deck are one piece). Theres already a crack in the fiberglass lip and i noticed i can pull up the top a little bit. I was wondering what i could use to cut the lip to take off the top.
not too great of a picture but it will have to do

 

[jonesg]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Angle grinders cut glass like buttah if you install a $14 dewalt diamond disk from home depot, but its probably glued all around, can't see any screws or rivets.

 

[andgott]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Angle grinder as mentioned works quite well, or a recip saw.

If I recall on my sunfish, it's bonded with resin all the way 'round- If I recall how mine was put together. I think that the angle grinder will be the easiest- but it's not going to be a fun job!

I think you're going to find a balsa core deck once you're in there. Mine was.

-Andrew

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

so if it is glue i still could use an angle grinder?
or what would be the best approach

 

[SKIBUM1M]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

I have an air compressor and find an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel works great for cutting glass and it has a thinner kerf to it.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

I am looking at that and envisioning use of a router with fence/guide on it.

Put straight carbide bit in router, any size set fence on top of boat with router at right angle to that lip.
Take off about 1/8" all around first pass, then more as needed.

Betchya it would take longer to get router set up than it would to do the job.

Nice smooth edge when you have it loose.

But then if it is cemented way up into the horizontal part of the lip it wont work so good.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

i agree that it is some sort of adhesive, and not fiberglass.
so you think an angle grinder will do the job just fine?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

All of the above will cut it but you have to envision how it is going to go back together.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

Re: Cutting Fiberglass

i am envisioning just cutting the glued area, and maybe using gluvit to reattach it along the lip and where it was cut? or fiberglass it? im not really quite sure. all i know is that the fiberglass hull lets water in and the floor is spongy.
its a 1984 boat, and i figure i might as well give it a shot to fix it. if anything it will just be an interesting project. I can always pick up a hull off CL for 2-300 bucks

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Cutting Fiberglass/adhesive lip

Angle grinder with a cutting wheel will do fine. A Roto Zip is lighter and more manoeverable. Be sure to wear disposable cover-alls, mask and gloves. Cutting fibreglass is worse than rolling around in insulation.