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Thaddeus J. Van Gilder
09-10-2002, 06:56 AM
I got this 1923 Bristol channel pilot cutter, and she has a laid doug fir (or pitch pine) deck. over this is a thick glass deck topped with gel coat.

you guys have any ideas as to the best ways to remove it while she's floating?
Chris Coose
09-10-2002, 07:03 AM
Jackhammer? Napalm?
Frank Wentzel
09-10-2002, 07:25 AM
Thad

If the glass was put on with polyester resin it should come off rather easily. I had a glass over plywood deck on my boat (put there in 68 by the builder - at the time they didn't know any better). In 1982 I took it off in sheets as much as 2'x 3' at a time. It had started to delaminate itself and need very little convincing to finish the job. If the glassing was done with epoxy I believe a heat gun will be your best bet.

/// Frank ///
Thaddeus J. Van Gilder
09-10-2002, 10:14 AM
It was polyester, but the resin was allowed to fill up were the cotton should have been and it's sticking pretty well. It was put on in 1980 or thereabouts.

[ 09-10-2002, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: Thaddeus J. Van Gilder ]
Allen Foote
09-10-2002, 10:19 AM
Try "melting" it off with "McCormack's" paint remover. The marine finish one available at thier paint store. Its very nasty stuff but...it will soften (melt) polyester resins. Brush it on like you are removing paint, small areas, and then use a paint scraper. Be patient and let it work before scraping.
thechemist
09-10-2002, 01:27 PM
Since it is only sticking in the seam area between the planks....why not use a rotary saw or router to cut the laminate only down to the wood surface? That much will be shavings, and the portion on wood will then release fairly easily, hopefully.
mariner2k
09-12-2002, 08:51 PM
My deck is fir plywood. I used a 6" grinder and a 4" grinder where the glass didn't come up willingly. Eventually I reglassed. So far so good.
Thaddeus J. Van Gilder
09-13-2002, 06:48 AM
I gotta keep the deck in OK shape as I will be caulking it and leaving it as a laid deck, as it was 40 years ago.
Mike Vogdes
09-13-2002, 07:06 AM
How about one of those peelers they use on fiberglass boats for blister repair?
Ed Nye
09-13-2002, 08:52 AM
Wish I knew more about polyester resins. If it was epoxy a heat gun will do a great job. Ed