Removal of hull topdeck???

[t.franscioni]

any one ever heard of removing the top deck from there hull? It's the only way I can think to replace the under bow carpet in my boat as it was clearly installed prior to mating the top deck to the bottom half of the hull. I have my boat stripped down completely and looking at the two upper and lower halves of the hull it appears they are mated together with simple screws and a bead of black ATV silicone to seal the halves from water intrusion. I was able to get a razor blade all the way through the silicone on a test spot and confirmed I could break the seal so that just leaves the screws I assume holding the halves together. The transome is the only area that actually has a strip of fiberglass over the seam but that can be easily cut with a disk and a new strip glassed in when putting it back together assuming the glass resin doesn't actually bond the two mating surfaces together in which case I wouldn't try to cut that apart. Looking at everything it seems doable just checking to see if I am missing anything in my assumption of how the top and bottom hull halves are mated? Any permanent epoxy glue seams with exception of the transome glass strip? Anyone ever heard of this being done? I'm building a couple overhead hoists on metal frames with caster wheels to hang my boat from off the lift rings so I can pull the trailer out from under it to have it repainted and so could use those two front and rear metal frame hoists to lift the top deck off if I can get it separated from the hull. This is completely ridiculous to do for sake of replacing the bow carpet but if it's been done at least I know it's an option before I go ahead and pull the bow carpet out and then try to reapply it with new only to find I can't get the carpet back in accurately without taking the topdeck off so I have the nessasary room to work.

[homer12]

No way would I go through all of that just to replace the carpet. If it were me, I'd just cut the carpet out where it meets the top deck and use what I've cut out as a template for the new piece and leave the old between the hull and upper deck. It sounds like way too much of a process the other way for a little carpet.

On other thought - I'm unfamiliar with your boat but I've read with Mastercrafts (some models) where guys have used a bottle jack and wood for support to raise the deck enough to slide the old carpet out. Not sure if that would work for you, but since it is only the bow, maybe you can be careful and flex the deck enough to get that clearance. Either way - good luck with it!

[t.franscioni]

The bow carpet in my boat is all one big triangle peice so perhaps if I do what your suggesting and pull it out and cut it into 3 strips I could get each new strip in and glued down one at a time. Thats a reasonable option. I was tinkering late into the night yesterday removing screws and cutting silicone. I got a good 12" section separated pretty easily.... If I can get a hooked blade carpet knife in and just drag it along the seam and break the silicone bead then that would make quick work of the separation. Luckily the silicone is seems to have been applied after the two halves of the hull we're screwed together so the it's really just the screws holding the hull together not the silicone which is just there to fill the gap and seal out water. It seems doable with the greatest risk being the handling of the top deck and making sure I don't crack it by twisting it to much. I'm going to keep probing around the transome to make sure that fiberglass strip is just there to cover the seam and is not actually intended to be bonding the rear seam together as there are screws on the transome as well so I think the screws are the only thing structurally holding the topdeck on.

[wakejunky]

The bow lift ring ties the top deck to the hull so, you'll have to reach up and under to get the nuts loose in order to remove the lift ring.
But, I too wouldn't go the route of trying to remove the top deck just to replace some carpet that you don't really see. I would spend my time doing something else more time worthy judging by the pictures, you've got quite a bit of work ahead of you.

Also note: looking at the groove that runs just above the rub rail screw holes, you need to run that groove above the screw holes so, that any spider webing in the gel coat will end at the grove. Looks like the factory screwed that one up. The groove has to be above the screw holes and below the rub rail line.

[t.franscioni]

I had planned on trying to get this thing on the water this summer. Now I'm beginning to realize that perhaps I'm not a wakeboarder at all and am really just a garage mechanic who likes to tinker with his boat more so than actually going and boating.... The more I fiddle around with this the more I want to remove the top deck. Thanks for the heads up on the lift ring. I think I'm going to give this top deck removal a shot despite full well knowing this may be the tragic ending of my project. If so I can honestly say it was a blast and I'll have plenty of freshly restored 02 SAN parts I can put up for sale to recoup some of my losses... We will see how the next several days unfold as I go around the seam with the carpet knife.

[Blamey]

No, don't do it.