Replacing the cap troubles

[HopeSheFloats]

Any tips-secrets-thoughts on getting the cap{fiberglass runabout}} back on a relaxed hull...Gave a quick shot at using ratchet straps although it's been a long hard day and I didn't give 'er a true chance. Seems like pushing/pulling 2-3 inches should do the trick, but I'll be working alone as my helpers have left town for the holiday...any ideas as to making things somewhat simpler or steps you have taken would be appreciated very much!

 

[109jb]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Have you already glassed the deck back in? If so, you may be screwed. With the deck glassed in the hull may just be too stiff to flex back in to the position that it needs to be in for the cap to fit.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Thanks for your time 109jb, yes the deck has been glassed in, everything is to spec accordingly to the measurements I made prior to the teardown. I think I didn't make myself clear enough in my situation...My problem is getting the cap to sit down, I'll get one half or the other just fine, but that inturn tends to cause a weight shift{so to say} and kind of tilts the cap up and away from the other side{hence the 2-3 inch reference of op}, hope that makes more sense.

Using the rachet straps, I was hoping of kinda leveling{again so to speak} the cap so that it will lower all the way around uniformally...the hull sides are flexible enough to press in towards the centerline, but the main problem is doing this alone...just don't want to waste a great {weather wise} weekend sitting around waiting for help.

where I'm at now.. I lifted the cap and had the mrs place three 2x4's between cap & hull
Thinking maybe rig up the cherry picker somehow, remove the 2x4 supports and attempt to lower it while hand guiding it into position.

and for those wondering, time was short when I had help moving the top back on, two guys headed north , another had a softball game and is leaving tomorrow for who knows where/what...anyways it didn't just drop down as planned and here I am!


Edit: maybe I could pin one side down semi loosely, then possibly cure my other side ailments...thoughts? or other ideas?

 

[109jb]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

I know exactly what you are talking about. I just finished my Sea Ray and let me say that I had to cut the front 2/3 of the deck loose from the hull and remove it, and also had to cut my stringers out about 1/2 way back to get the sides to flex in enough to get the cap back on. After the cap was on I then trimmed the removed sections of the stringers and re-fiberglassed them in and then re-fiberglassed the deck to the hull a second time. Like you, before i cut the deck loose, I could get the cap to fit dowwn one side or the other, but not both. If I centered the cap at the bow and stern, I could see that right about at the consoles the hull was about 1 to 1-1/2 inches wider than the cap on each side. I tried for a complete day with turnbuckles attached from side to side at various locations. In the end, pissed off and disgusted, I decided that even if I did get the cap on this way it just wasn't right and I would have stresses in the hull that didn't belong there. For me it was a loss of about 3 solid days of work but I am happy in the way I did it. If I ever do another glass boat you can damn sure bet that I will have the cap on before I glass in stringers or deck.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Thanks again for sharing your time 109jb, I sure hope thats not the case here, they don't allow bon-fires in town so I'd have to fire up the chain saw{LOL}. As soon as I finish my coffee I'll be back at 'er to see what shakes. I feel {OK I'm prayin} that the sides are forgiving enough that it's just gonna be a matter of 'positioning and timing' to get it back together...guess I'll find out soon enough if I'll have to wait for more help or get to cutting as you had to....hopefully this is where being a little bull-headed will come in to play

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Yee Haw she's back on...started at the stern, added screws every foot or so all the way around{back and forth, one each side working stern to bow} while using the flat bar to 'tuck' the hull under the cap, using one ratchet strap as needed along the way...beers on me stop on by

 

[chrishayes]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Good to hear man! I am scared of this happening to me. I have had mine seperated for some time now on a trailer that is not quite right for my particular boat. The one saving grace that I have is that this boat is THICK. The glass on the sides and hull is over 3/8" thick. Not to mention it is a trihull so there is kindof triangulation helping to support her. I guess we shall see soon enough.

THe worst problem for me is that I would have followed everyones advice and put the cap back on right after finishing the transom but my boat has a bow walk thru and seats that are one piece with the cap that sit on top of the deck...SO I cant. I intend to try to just put in the forward amount that is needed forward of the dash and hope for the best:redface:

Again, I am really happy for you!

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

That was my fear as well. But before I glassed the deck in place, I wrapped a ratchet strap over the whole boat. (left the boat on the trailer). Then I drew the sides in ever so slightly. Luckily I had no issues with putting the cap on. Before I put the cap on, as well, I went around the whole top of hull, where the cap screws on with a strip of fiberglass to cover the old holes. Then I used both stainless screws and rivets to hold the cap on. Then on the inside, I put about six strips of fiberglass on the join just to get that extra bite.

 

[redfury]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Well, it's a day late and a dollar short, but the story is still poignant to anyone reading the thread and having the same problems.

I've pulled the cap and refit it on my Glastron ( post tear down ) 3 times at least now. Here's what I've discovered:
1. the boat bows outward, not inward-duh!
2. the factory didn't necessarily make a perfectly straight cut on the hull when they glassed it in the mold, so you can't just run a putty knife the length of the hull and just get it to fall in place.
3. it's easier to fit the cap from the back to the front if you can.
4. 3 sets of ratchet straps long enough to circumnavigate a 17 foot boat are better than 2 sets.
5. have at least 2 or 3 wide blade putty knives/similar available.
6. once the cap is set in place, you will want to try to push the cap over the hull evenly, even if you end up dropping the cap lower than it was originally, because it's easier to push the cap up a little than try to cram part of the hull back under it if it pokes back out.
7. it can be done by the hands of one man, it just takes patience, persistence and tenacity.
8. if possible, devise wedges that you can hang from the edges of the hull so they act as a shoe horn for the cap ( goes along way to help keeping the hull from being damaged by trying to force a section under the cap.

This last time, with the ratchet straps ( 2 ) it took me less than 15 minutes to drop the cap on the boat from it hovering above the hull on my pulley system.

I'm going to try to make a video when I finally drop the cap the last time, and when I lift the cap off again so there are some pictures/video references for anyone unsure how to go about getting their cap off/on. That is, if I remember :redface:

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Yes, definitely lost a few hours sleep here & there worrying how things would turn out. Like Chris, mine has the walk-thru that prevents proper repairs unless removed {or cut up which I did not want to attempt}. I think thats a good idea chris has about doing the front section then getting the cap back on to finish, if I would of thought of that, thats how I would of proceeded.

I also wish I would of glassed around the edge like TC did prior to putting the cap on. I will 'tab' the joint here & there{from behind} for added peace of mind though.

Nice job with the tips Redfury, I had a hard time searching for something like this, sure will offer needed insight to those looking...be cool to have a vid or two, be great of you to do them.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Yes, definitely lost a few hours sleep here & there worrying how things would turn out. Like Chris, mine has the walk-thru that prevents proper repairs unless removed {or cut up which I did not want to attempt}. I think thats a good idea chris has about doing the front section then getting the cap back on to finish, if I would of thought of that, thats how I would of proceeded.

I also wish I would of glassed around the edge like TC did prior to putting the cap on. I will 'tab' the joint here & there{from behind} for added peace of mind though.

Nice job with the tips Redfury, I had a hard time searching for something like this, sure will offer needed insight to those looking...be cool to have a vid or two, be great of you to do them.

I forgot to mention that I also used marine caulking in between the top and bottom where they meet. So far, I have zero leaking around the edges.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Replacing the cap troubles

Thanks again TC, I had planned on that as well, but I 'almost' forgot LOL, I'm heading out in a few to do the final attachment and your reminder was perfect timing...guess I'm going to HD first