Starting restoration on a 1987 Winner Alpha II

[Chris1956]

Why do you want to take the cap off? That is a tricky process as you are finding out. Can you repair the transom w/o removing the cap? Hopefully you can get at all the decking necessary to fix the floor, w/o removing the cap.

The rot under the vents in the transom is nothing to worry about, as I think it will be an inch or so of rotten plywood.. Simply chistle it away and use some marine putty to fill it in. It will be strong enough and not seen with the vent covers installed.

Just my .02

 

[Chris1956]

I would be much more worried about the cap breaking when removing it. They are much more fragile than the hull, and if it breaks, it will be hard to repair so it looks good..

Take some measurements of the hull, before taking the cap off to make sure the hull doesn't spread on you.

 

[Faustus]

Those are good points Chris. I just think getting the cap off will let get to everything that's behind it easily. I plan on being very careful with it. I also plan on bracing the hull as I pull off the cap a little at a time so it retains its' shape.

 

[Buckischloo]

I have de-capped a Baja and a Checkmate. These were held together with rivits. I drilled and punched out all of the rivets. I had to go all the way around with a putty knife and push it between the upper and lower overlapping lips. Once I got the cap raised at the bow and held up with a 2X4 I was able to slowly go around with the putty knife and pry between the two. There was some caulk in a few places I had to pry apart. Where the splashwell met the transom, the cap and the hull were fiber glassed together so I had to cut the splashwell at the transom. (the transom needed replaced anyway) It finally separated. Take your time and it can be done.

 

[Faustus]

Chris: How can I replace the flooring without taking off the cap? I can't get under the console, the rod locker or the live well to get it all. Do I have to gut the inside completely? The plywood is completely rotten.

Buck: I have done that already. It seems they epoxied the cap to the hull where all of the containers and the hull meet.

Here are some more pictures:

 

[Faustus]

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[Faustus]

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[Faustus]

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[Chris1956]

You may not be able to get at all the deck w/o removing the cap. Newer boats seem to have the cap cover more of the infrastructure of the boat.

My neighbor's BW Outrage had a boarding ladder bolted to the transom. A bolt broke, but the head was covered by the cap. No way to replace the bolt, at least no easy way.

 

[Faustus]

What are anyone's thoughts on converting this to a flats boat with a center console? It sounds amazing to me!

 

[Faustus]

I did some cutting today, and let me tell you...they built these boats like tanks. Check this out:

If you look closely you'll see plywood fiberglassed to the cap. I was burning the wood cutting it with the metal cutting wheel on the angle grinder. I am going to have to cut the top all the way back because where the seats are must also have plywood behind it. Sturdy as hell!

Hope to make some progress today, but with the hurricane coming, the weather may not permit it.

 

[kcassells]

no pics on my end

 

[Faustus]

Odd. Let's see if this works:

 

[steve_h7]

:thumb:

 

[Faustus]

More progress pics. I destroyed the cap taking it off, but I'm not going to reuse it anyway. Progress so far: