deck removel

[may knot]

looking for information on the removal of deck on com-PAC 16. Bunks are completely rotted out plus the fiberglass pan over cement in the keel is also destroyed. I am to big  to crawl in and work in that small area. I know that it is a big job but am sick of sailing with water in the cabin and everthing getting wet. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

[Craig Weis]

Well if you are really head strong about STILL removing the deck on a 16 then buy a Milwaukee SawzAll and a pile of blades.

1-Remove the rub rail and corner caps.
2 Saw through the 3-M 5200 glue plus pop rivets on 4 inch centers, holding the lip of the deck to the lip of the hull.
I'd saw from the outside in. Just walk around the hull on make shift scaffolding.
3-Be careful! Don't let the saw go where it wants to...you drive that saw where it needs to go.
4-Life is too short for dull blades and fiberglass eats blades up in a matter of seconds. Probably cut about 30 inch per blade. About five minutes a blade. About 10,000 strokes per blade at 2000 spm.
5-Where a mask.
6-Put her back together in reverse. Hey you will still need to get into those tight spaces to finish the hull deck joint on the inside. Splatter paint [like in automobile trunks] works well here. Good Luck. skip