Cap Removal Problems

[JC612000]

Having difficulty getting the cap off my fish and ski. Appears like it is sealed (bondo?) at the splash well with a support structure attached to the transom on the inside. Anyone run into this? I've got to get the cap off, but this thing is a monster and will not budge at the transom.

 

[JC612000]

No Title

 

[Watermann]

Thinking I would get out a saw and start cutting, the cuts would be easier to repair than splits and tears.

 

[nurseman]

+1 on cutting it free and repairing the cut. Much easier to repair a clean edge vs. a splintered and torn edge. Don't let the thought of cutting it apart spook you, the glass really is easy to repair.

 

[djm3801]

+2. I have seen folks use a cutting wheel, going in from the top and inside of skin. I cut side caps off my McKee - transom wood was rotten and since I knew thickness of glass was about 1/4" I just cut in from back a little over that with a coarse blade jig saw.

 

[Woodonglass]

Use a multitool saws all jig saw what ever it takes to cut it free. It can all be repaired quite easily!!

 

[JC612000]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to work on the boat today between Honey-do's. I decided to attack from the inside. There was nowhere good to cut it near the splash well on the outside. There was a 2x4 glassed to the transom on the inside. I was able to cut it out, and then had enough room to get a small dremel tool on the inside skin to cut around the splash well. The back is now free! It wasn't easy, but I guess that's the way it goes.

 

[JC612000]

Hi folks, looks like I'm about ready to buy fiberglass/ epoxy supplies to start the rebuild process. I'm near a West Marine store for the next couple days. Does anyone have an opinion on their products? Figure it might be a good opportunity to save on shipping and any hazard taxes.

 

[Woodonglass]

Sooo are you using Epoxy?? West Marine epoxy is really good stuff and Priceeeeee!!!! Polyester Resin will work really well and IF you can buy it locally and save shipping, it's about 1/2 the cost. Shipping epoxy is not to bad since it's NOT classified as a hazardous material like Poly is.

 

[JC612000]

Thanks, was thinking about epoxy, as I understood it to be a bit more forgiving for newbies. Going to price out what I thnk I need at west marine, they have a lot of good info on their products that I've been reading about today.