proper tools for demo of cruddy deck

[VinceJ]

I have seen alot of different tools mentioned for the demolition of shot decks...since I definately need to cut mine out and rebuild, I was considering after removing the 3/4 plywood that was laid over the original glassed in deck scribing a line with a sharpie three inches from where the deck meets the gunnel along the entire periphery and then using a 4 inch grinder to make my cut and then running port to starboard and taking this crap out in pieces? This deck is in a '64 Sea Ray 900...sound ok or other suggestions?

 

[1730V]

Re: proper tools for demo of cruddy deck

Many different methods have been used. Your idea sounds workable.

Some swear by using the tip of a chainsaw.

Personaly, I use a circular saw with the blade set at increasing depths. I find that the circ. saw doesn't throw as much fiberglass around (itchy) and I can attach a vac to mine.

You can't get a circuular saw into all areas thus a cut off wheel works better there.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: proper tools for demo of cruddy deck

you really need to work from the center out. till you find where the hull and deck meet. you idea may work or it may cut thru your hull.

i am also a advocate of an electric chainsaw for hard to get places. especially if doing a seacast transom.

 

[rebuilt]

Re: proper tools for demo of cruddy deck

I did mine with just a 4 1/4' grinder, standard cutoff grinding blades, an L shaped prybar, and a 1" wood chisel and hammer. Center out is a good idea. I got a few suprises in mine. Places that looked deep weren't. The deck was resinned (one n, or 2?) to the hull in places under the deck, toward the center of the boat, where the hull flattens out. Just chase the curves of the hull. In hindsight, I would have held off the sides a little more, then ground that flush once the deck was out.Taking it out in chunks is one way. I went for the whole bow curve at once, so I would have a pattern for the new deck. Mine's a tri-hull, so there were 3 little bows to cut out. The plywood was so far gone, without a pattern, it would have been a cardboard cutting jamboree to set up a template. It's not complicated, just very time consuming. Take your time, which ever method you choose. About 1/2 way through the tearout, I switched to a thin fast cutting blade, the 1/4" blade was slow and throwing a huge cloud of glass dust. That's when I cut the hull. Lost a little time making the repair, and learned to slow down some more. Good luck either way you go. KR http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs/p/428/

 

[VinceJ]

Re: proper tools for demo of cruddy deck

Thanks for the info...Here is where I am on this thing right now...after having the engine, outdrive and transom mount removed, I have found my bilge to be just absolutely oil slimed, so I am going to the carwash and soaking the bilge with degreaser and then rinsing that out, the cut out for the transom mount and such looks good until just at the bottom there is a little rot...I have sounded the transom with a deadblow hammer and it bounces like a quarter off a proper made army bunk...how ever from the bottom of the cutout to the drain tube is dull sounding in approximately a six to eight in diameter so I am sure that is rotting, at what stage I am not sure...have considered after pulling up deck, surgically cutting out the inner skin to see how much of the transom wood is shot...if it is minimal am considering many pilot holes and filling with git rot or just maybe carefully removing all the wood, glassing the inner skin back in and removing the cap at the stern opening the transom from the top, plugging the through transom hole for the transom mount and pouring seacast and being done with it....another option I have is a 20 ft 76 Sea Ray that is already gutted with no engine, stringers are out and that bothers me because its sitting on a bunk trailer and the guy doesnt have time to do the job...however why he would have removed all the stringers and just left the boat on the trailer makes me wonder if the hull has racked haveing no support at the keel..(250.00) takes all....another option is a '66 seabird cuddy that has "some rot" at transom and aft floor near engine mount (450.00) takes all....or just do the job on this '64 sea ray 900 I bought for a song...I dont mind the work its going to take to do this deal...just wondering if I should maybe switch gears to a newer hull with less work required....decisions decisions....thanks for everyones input.

Vince