Removing cap from small boat

[Hydrilla]

OK, I'm still getting over the shock of how much Seacast will cost me to do the transom on my little 15' boat, I did the formula yesterday and it is going to cost waay too much. So I'm going to do a traditional wood transom. How much trouble can I expect to have in removing the top cap of a boat like this? It's not a heavy boat, do you think I could do it without hoists or anything? I was hoping maybe it would be as simple as taking off the rub rail and removing the screws, and then just getting another guy or two to help me lift it off. Thanks.

EDIT: Here's my Share A Project page-
http://shareaproject.com/pages/imageDetail,p,458,i,7561,00.html

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

well it would help know more about your boat. a picture would really help. i would think 4 people to keep from stressing it.
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,346,00.html

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

Sorry, I tried to post a picture with my original post but it wouldn't let me even thought the size was small enough. I did post a link to a webshots pic but you may/may not get the red X. The link that is inside the red X is valid though. It's a 15' Supra fishing boat, an old tri-hull like the bass boats back then. Thanks for the reply.

 

[oops!]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

there seems to be some prob with pics today.....

any hoo...the tri hull can be any kind of cap configuration.....
so it might be heavy.....but strong people with room to work can do it....

1. remove rub rail
2. drill out rivets or screws
3. break seal../silicone like product
4. free cap
5. insert 2x4s under cap
6. remove....

this is for a standard shoe box type of setup...

a flange joint is different....if you run into one...you need to cut the fiberglass strip around the inner hull cap joint......

good luck...welcome to the party

 

[oops!]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

look here to see a cap coming off

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

in the first pic you can see the rub rail is starting to be removed

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

look here to see a cap coming off

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

in the first pic you can see the rub rail is starting to be removed

Thanks oops, those pics are a big help! I appreciate the advice. Looks like I have to put this on hold for a month or so... I hurt my ribs a couple weeks ago doing jiu jitsu and finally quit being stubborn and went to the doc. 2 broken ribs. No cap lifting or transom building for me for a while.

 

[oops!]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

that sux....

buy a whip....beer...and call your buddies !

 

[redfury]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

If all you are doing is the transom, then you can probably get away with just sliding the cap forward if you have the right type of cap. I couldn't do that with my boat, it had to come off completely due to the open bow.

Beyond that, you can either get some PVC pipe or 2x4's to support the cap above the boat ( PVC pipe will allow you to roll it forward and back by yourself )

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

Haha, whip and beer... great idea! I know a couple buddies that would go for that no problem!

Awesome idea to try just moving the cap forward, redfury. The transom is all I need to do other than build raised casting decks over the existing floor. I think if it comes apart easily, that will be the best way to try initially.

Question... can I do this without removing the inner skin? In the pics I've seen so far, people who rebuild their transom with wood, they cut out the inner skin of the transom and then glass in the wood with the supports. Is this only because the inner skin is bad, or is it tough to fit the new wood between inner and outer skin? Both of mine are in good shape, just the wood on the inside is bad, and almost all removed at this point.

 

[kennyboater]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

well im about to do mine and until i found this site i was thinking the same thing.

you cant just drop a new piece of wood in between the two skins because it will not provide enought support. that is why they remove the inner skin so that they can fiberglass and resin the new wood to the outer skin and sides of hull, then glass making new skin connecting to sides of hull.

but main point there, the wood cannot just be dropped in between the skins, it needs to be glassed to the skins and side of hull...this is what makes the transom strong. VERY important.

so ive read, like i said, about to start on mine.

someone correct me if im wrong at all above

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

well im about to do mine and until i found this site i was thinking the same thing.

you cant just drop a new piece of wood in between the two skins because it will not provide enought support. that is why they remove the inner skin so that they can fiberglass and resin the new wood to the outer skin and sides of hull, then glass making new skin connecting to sides of hull.

but main point there, the wood cannot just be dropped in between the skins, it needs to be glassed to the skins and side of hull...this is what makes the transom strong. VERY important.

so ive read, like i said, about to start on mine.

someone correct me if im wrong at all above

Well, then that really sux because my inner fiberglass skin is my splashwell. I don't know how to overcome that one. Maybe that puts me back in the camp of having to spring for Seacast or something similar, because I will *not* be rebuilding the splashwell.

I found out tonight that I think the cap would come off easily. Went out there and pulled the rub rail and removed the screws, and when I pick up on the front of the cap, I can hear it creak like it wants to come unsealed. What's the trick to breaking the silicone (or whatever it is) seal? I gently put a screwdriver under the cap in one spot, and I can tell how very easily it will be to crack/bust the lip of the cap to pieces.

 

[oops!]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

do you have a shoe box type?

you can tell cause the lip of the cap fits over the hull.....

if it fits like its just sitting on it.....then you gotta cut the glass layer inside.....

the splash well should be part of the cap......

and cut the whole thing out....the glass liner in front of the transom...use your grinder.......

it takes a strong body....lots of bending and reaching ...in ways body's dont like...there is no "comfortable" position ....might hurt you......

buy the whip !

get well soon....
cheers
oops

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

do you have a shoe box type?

you can tell cause the lip of the cap fits over the hull.....

if it fits like its just sitting on it.....then you gotta cut the glass layer inside.....

the splash well should be part of the cap......

and cut the whole thing out....the glass liner in front of the transom...use your grinder.......

it takes a strong body....lots of bending and reaching ...in ways body's dont like...there is no "comfortable" position ....might hurt you......

buy the whip !

get well soon....
cheers
oops

Yes it is the shoe box type, the cap definitely sits over the top of the hull, with about a 1" lip overhang. You're absolutely right about the splashwell being part of the cap. Hey, it was late and I wasn't thinking clearly. I blame it on the Tylenol 3 with codeine I know exactly what you're talking about, I see that there's a thin front skin to the transom, that can easily be cut out. OK, we're back in business.

I was a sight out there last night... Gimpy dude out there with a cordless drill at 11pm trying to remove a bunch of screws, rub rail, and rub rail frame, quietly so I wouldn't upset the neighbors Good times.

 

[i386]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

I wish I could see your pics Hydrilla. From your description it sounds similar to mine. You can click the link in my signature to see my boat. Once my rubrail was removed and rivets were all drilled out the cap was free except for the stern section. I decided to cut it and remove it in 2 sections. I found out later that I could have gotten it out in one piece. All it did was create a bunch of extra work for me.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

Check out my project in my link....go to Related Projects then demo....also check out transom.

My splash well was glassed to my inner skin on my transom. It took me a long time on my back under the splash well grinding. I choose to cut the inner skin around the splash well to separate them. I then had to grind off excess fiberglass from the underside/back of the splash well. Thats where I oops. I went too deep and went through. At that point I just cut out the back of the splash well and glassed it to the transom when I re-installed.

Good Luck

-JMW

Here are direct links to the sections...

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,308,00.html
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,306,00.html

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

I wish I could see your pics Hydrilla. From your description it sounds similar to mine. You can click the link in my signature to see my boat. Once my rubrail was removed and rivets were all drilled out the cap was free except for the stern section. I decided to cut it and remove it in 2 sections. I found out later that I could have gotten it out in one piece. All it did was create a bunch of extra work for me.

Sorry i386. I will start one of those share project sites and post the link on here, it looks like that's the way to go.

 

[i386]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

Yea, if I'd been a little more patient I could have got it all out in once piece. What I should have done is fasten a rope to the cap near the bow and tossed it over a tree limb. Also I used a hand saw slipped in between the hull and cap to loosen the joint as much as possible before I popped it out. I believe that step is what saved it from damaging the outer skin. Now I will have to join the two parts of the cap back together. I've got a good idea how to do it but I will be consulting this forum for some specifics when the time comes.

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

I'll still set up one of those project sites tonight, but see if this link works to the webshots album where my boat pics are-

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/558542589wvWbcX#

 

[Hydrilla]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

I started a Share A Project site, the link is now in my signature.

Going to add some more recent pictures asap.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Removing cap from small boat

some pics from the console, to the motor an splash well , broad view under the splash well. the pics you posted are to far away and to general. nice boat by the way.