Removing Nacra decks-how hard?

Got a projact 5.8 for the fleet, and I am thinking about reinforcing the decks, how hard is it to remove them so I can add a layer of glass underneath?

Matt:

Not an easy project, you have to destroy them to remove them. I did one of my decks last year, and will do the other next year, when I take the hulls to the factory next winter for their every other year overhaul - if I don't get a new 580 by then. May I ask why you are doing this? And, you can get new deck from Performance, it will take them a few weeks to make them

BTW - I am in Ventura, and will most likely put my 5.8 on the beach up there later this year.

John Schwartz

Yep, you will destroy it. You can make a mould of the deck while it is on the hull and make another.

Paul

Hi – I am going to be in Santa Barbara over Memorial Day weekend, and would like to ask if either of you two (sbflyer & jes58) know where I could get some catamaran sailing in while there.

I can strongly reccomend Santa Barbara Catamarans. They're on the beach and Matt, the guy that runs it, is a pleasure to deal with. I think his number is 805-708-1724.

Enjoy the sail - it's beautiful there!!!!

Bill Nieuwkerk

Get with me off list at pa38112 $ adelphia + net ($=@ +=.). I am in the process of putting a spinaker on my 5.8 and maybe we can make a run out to Anacapa or Santa Cruz Island

We have removed the decks off of several 5.8 Nacras over the years (and re glassed them back after the hull work) without any major problems. Basically you just have to "go slow". We insert a narrow bladed paint scraper between the hull and the deck at one point, and then work carefully around the seam, only moving along in small increments. If you try wedging in a chisel or try to "lift" too wide a section at one time you will fracture the gel coat or worse still the glass laminate as well, but if you are patient then it is quite a simple and successful operation. I am not sure about the lay-up of the decks in the states, but the Australian ones have never needed any reinforcing for the deck “hatches/lids”.

Thanks for the kind words from Bill Nieuwkerk, just wish we had better wind while you were here, and for Nimrod, stop banging your head against the wall and get out here and sail! I'm worried about the decks because they have been baking in the Lake Havasu sun for years and make crackling sounds when you lean on them, and are starting to show fore and aft cracks that look to be ( guessing here )where a half round tube has been glassed to the underside as a stringer, and as a rental boat it will get sat on more than normal, instead of being trapped out all the time...