cap removal.. to do or not to do...

[Smeag]

With my restoration i'm at the point of digging out the last of the stringers. i have realized that the front end stringers are indeed far up under the cap and i can't quite get them out without removing the cap. i've read horror stories and been warned to be careful about removing the cap as you can transform the shape of your hull. i really don't see a way around it, as those stringers have to come out. they are not rotten yet but everypiece of wood up to them is still damp even though they feel fairly solid. does anyone know that with my type of boat, would support of the hull even be necessary? and if it is how does one go about supporting the hull. here's a few pics to get an idea of what i'm dealing with. the hull seems fairly solid, and i'm working off of the trailer.

18' baretta 1988

 

[MrMarine]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

That would be a YES. You need to remove the cap to replace the rest of the stringers. The bottom of the boat will not deform. The only place you will need to be carefull with is the sides. They will flex a little but not enought to do any damage as long as you are carefull getting in and out. (go in and out over the transom). If there is any question as to them moving to much you and put a 2x4 in a few places at the top of the sides to keep it from flexing. I have done that before and it works well. Also take some measurements of the width and mark it on the hull where you measured so you can always reference the width. I always kept the hull on the trailer it was the best support for the bottom in my opinion, and you can add a few extra supports and blocks of wood in places that maybe weak or just may need extra support on the bottom. Well hope things go well for you.

Now make sure when you go to start fiberglassing the stringers in place that the width of the sides have not flexed out. If the have and you run the glass up the gunnels it will be bad. That is the problem/horro story you are talkign about. If the sides are flexed out and you fiberglass up the gunnels the cap will never fit back on. Just use common sense that is what it is all about. Take your time and do it right the first time.

 

[Smeag]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

thanx for the tips . i'll be yanking it out tomorrow so i can get the rest of those dirty stringers out.

 

[Oilguy]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

I have an 89 19' Baretta that is probably very similar to yours... I don't think you are going to have any problems with flexing if you leave it on the trailer. The deck doesn't really make it up onto the sides until the last couple of feet so I don't see you being able to permanently affect the shape of the walls by installing new stringers and deck.

Leterrip!

 

[Mark42]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

Mr Marine and Oilguy gave you good info. But there is one important issue not mentioned: On a bow rider boat, it is more critical to measure the beam at the windshield and support it there. Too often I have read about bow rider windshields not closing or lining up correctly after the cap was removed for a stringer job. So measure and brace that area. Its also important to close the windshield and take some measurements of the space between the consols and any other critical dimension you can find there. Also distance to floor from across the gunnels so when the new plywood deck is installed, the consols can be adjusted up or down as needed to compensate for differences in deck height. This will help with the reassembly and alighment of the windshield.

Looks like you are doing a good job. I'm sure it will turn out right for you.

 

[Smeag]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

Update:

well i removed the bumper rail and the 60 or 70 screws in place underneath and i have successfully seperated the cap from the hull. didn't realize how heavy the damn thing was. i made an attempt to rig some ropes and slowly bring it up and out of my way, but after about an hour of trying i gave up. it's just not a one man job. i'm going to enlist some help in the next few days so i can get it completely off. thanx for the extra tips about suporting the windshield and such. kinda glad i wasn't able to get it myself .

i'll post some pics when i finally get the damn thing off. as of right now my restore is at a standstill because i can't start even cutting new stringers until i can figure out what i'm dealing with under there.

 

[blousteau]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

Sounds like we are both at the same point! I am working on an 84 187 Chaparral bowrider. Did you cut the consoles from the "supports" that connect to the deck? I couldn't see any other way to seperate mine. I also screwed some boards between the two to keep the consoles from sagging while the cap is off.

I agree, not that it is too heavy to lift, but way to cumbersome for one person to manage. I am trying to enlist a few people to help me lift mine off. I was going to put a few 2x4s underneath to do the lift. Where are you going to store yours? I was planning on putting mine in the driveway, but I am planning on putting it back on before I start the stringers. I wish mine was screwed together, I had to drill out about 100 pop rivits.

 

[Smeag]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

Sounds like we are both at the same point! I am working on an 84 187 Chaparral bowrider. Did you cut the consoles from the "supports" that connect to the deck? I couldn't see any other way to seperate mine. I also screwed some boards between the two to keep the consoles from sagging while the cap is off.

I agree, not that it is too heavy to lift, but way to cumbersome for one person to manage. I am trying to enlist a few people to help me lift mine off. I was going to put a few 2x4s underneath to do the lift. Where are you going to store yours? I was planning on putting mine in the driveway, but I am planning on putting it back on before I start the stringers. I wish mine was screwed together, I had to drill out about 100 pop rivits.

yeah i think i got lucky and didn't have to deal with most of it because i now think the P/O had taken the cap off to do some repairs. it was pretty much just the 80 or so screws holding it in ( i forgot the drill so yeah about an hour of unscrewing them with a screwdriver -- nice forearm workout ) after i got the screws off and just removed the wires from the brackets on the hull it pretty much just lifted straight up. i'm just gonna store it in the rafters in the barn i'm working on it in and when i'm done i'm just gonna lower it back into place. seemed the easiest way to go about it. that way i didn't have to unhook the pile of wires and was able to leave steering cables and all still attached.

 

[blousteau]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

Sounds good, mine is not quite the same though. The cap on mine must have been removed before and the entire bow seating area cut out of it, then the supports were added for the consoles and then glassed back together. I wish my front seating came out with the cap!!!!! I have alot of cutting then refitting to get the front seating out. Then I have to fab it all back up again.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: cap removal.. to do or not to do...

I didn't remove the cap on mine since it's not a bowrider but did notice quite a bit of flexing on my boat after the stringers were out. I also noticed indentations from the trailer rollers. Just to make sure that it held it's shape, I went ahead and placed the aft end on saw horses and supported the keel near the bow so it was totally off the trailer. After a few days, the hull relaxed back into it's normal shape, e.g., minus the bumps from the trailer rollers.

I know that's not exactly the same as your question but it's something to watch out for.