stringer/deck costs and splitting the halves q's

[salty87]

i've run into a bit of an obstacle on my stringer/deck project. the foam under my open bow is soaked so the top half is gonna have to come off. it's a 23' hull and i don't have proper storage facilities, don't want to risk warping anything...top cap or hull bottom.

i'm considering hiring a shop to split the top off and slap the new stringers/deck in while they have it. i'd put it all back together once they put the top back on.

roughly, how much would the materials run for a hull of this size?...stringers, deck, undecided about foam. i've seen people say they spent about $1500 on 15-17' hulls, is that accurate? that would put me in the $2500 range?

i'm weighing my options at this point.

also, any thoughts on taking the top off? top portion must weight 3-400 pounds with windshield, dash, front seat backs, etc? the best i can come up with would be to set the top on saw horses next to the hull and toss a tarp over it. i'm imagining the keystone cops though getting my friends to 'help' move that sucker around.

 

[redfury]

Re: stringer/deck costs and splitting the halves q's

I can help you out with practical knowledge. I removed the cap from my 17ft glastron. I did not take anything off of it, you can see a picture in my link for my project.

I figured 5 pulleys for the front and 5 for the back would be enough of a mechanical advantage to be able to pull the cap off. I built a "superstructure" around the boat with some 2x3's I got from my dad, lashed on the top pulleys and strung some braided rope through the system. It came off, but not evenly. I had to pull on one side, lift up on the other to even it out, back and forth to get it up high enough to pull the bottom out. I then lowered it onto a 55 gallon drum and a saw horse. I did this all by my lonesome, but will need help when I put the cap back on. I'm not worried about the hull warping as it being a trihull is pretty sturdy as it is, and the sidewalls are pretty thin, so they can be manipulated once the cap goes back on.

Your boat on the other hand...yes, you'll need a good amount of help, and you'll need to build a serious structure to handle the weight. My boat weighs in at about 1100 lbs dry, and the cap seems to be about even in weight with the bottom. I'd say 500lbs top, 600lbs bottom, or visa versa. It was a bit of work and effort, especially getting the transom loose. That took a bit of work. Once that was done, the rest was just a matter of lifting it high enough to clear the bottom.

 

[salty87]

Re: stringer/deck costs and splitting the halves q's

thanks, redfury. that's the kind of info i'm looking for. i have a couple of 55 gal drums and didn't think about getting them involved.

edit: i just got around to looking at the pics. that's sort of what i have been envisioning. your set up looks good, i might have to do similar. but, i have to get the top up even higher, mine will have interior walls connected to it that extend down to the deck. i'm figuring i'll need to get it about 4 feet above the hull so they'll clear.

i'm welcoming all suggestions at this point. my workspace is also the side yard, no cement but the ground is fairly flat. my boat also sits pretty high on the trailer, the rub rail is about shoulder height and i'm 6'3".

thanks