removing open bow

[Mbison7]

hi there, I am doing a restoration of a 19' Doral classic with an open bow. I am at the stage of ripping up the floor due to rot. my question is how do I go about getting to the floor under the bow its all fiberglass. do I just cut out the section and fiberglass it in when I'm done? I'm new to the boating world so i'm not sure if this seems like a dumb question lol

 

[jigngrub]

Re: removing open bow

You're going to have to remove your "furniture" first. This may be built into the hull cap... or not. You may want to remove your rubrail and the cap to hull fasteners and try prying the cap up a little to see if your furniture (seat backs) move.

Your seat bases may be tabbed into the decking... or not. Look for signs of screw heads on the seat bases about 3/4" above the deck, they may be painted over.

 

[further]

Re: removing open bow

Looks like yours might be part of the cap. Mine was tabbed into the hull so had to be cut out to get to the stringers cause the stringers ran under the seat assemblies

 

[Mbison7]

Re: removing open bow

I had taken the seats off sorry it was an old picture but ya its molded to the hull

 

[Mbison7]

Re: removing open bow

Looks like yours might be part of the cap. Mine was tabbed into the hull so had to be cut out to get to the stringers cause the stringers ran under the seat assemblies

thanks for the pictures that really helps! looks like I will be cutting the fiberglass out. just one thing when Im done do I just reinstall the piece I cut out by fiber glassing them back together?

 

[chconger]

Re: removing open bow

Yes, when you return to putting these parts back together, you will have fiber-glassed more stuff then you ever dreamed of. So your going to do a flawless job when you get back here again.

 

[further]

Re: removing open bow

Take a pic of the bow area. looks like it might be part of the cap... If they're not, you will have to cut them out. I cut mine out and will be rebuilding them new using the old as templates.

 

[GaJeff]

Re: removing open bow

I'm in the middle of a restoration and mine is exactly like yours. The seats are part of the top cap. When I got to that area I found the bottom of the floor pan was about 4" from actually touching the deck. Which made a cracking sound any time it was stepped on. It also caused the dual console and windshield to be all out of alignment.

Soooooo what I done is cut that tub out completely and left the seat tops. I will be tabbing in new seat boxes to the deck That will eliminate an air gap under there and your feet will be on the deck and not in a tub. It's a little more work but will be stronger IMO.

Jeff

 

[Mbison7]

Re: removing open bow

Thanks that's a great idea I think ur right it will be stronger and it allows for the ability to remove them easier later on if need be