Redloon,
Just logging back into v20 since the new year. Just returned from a New Years Cruise with the family. You are welcome for the procedures for top cap removal. I researched several methods and the one I came up with was the most cost effective at the time. It worked out great. Wish I had been on here sooner. You could have stopped by and seen the boat separated and how bad things were rotted and the bad fiberglass job from the factory. At the moment, I have all the foam removed and all the center bulkheads removed as well. Weather has not been good lately and have not been able to work on it. Unfortunately, I do not have a shelter or building to work on the boat.

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/sh...ad.php?t=17379

HI Bum,
Nice project ya got. I did a complete restoration on my 81 that is linked above. Check out divynicell for your deck material it is a great product. I used AB Baltic birch for stringers and transom and epoxy resins but would have used divynicell for the stringers and bulkheads had I known what a great product it is. Also made sure not to create hard spots in the hull. This is really important in your layup. If you have any questions feel free to send me an email and I can look back at my notes and suppliers. Oh, all the stainless fasteners from the big box stores will be stained with rust in a year.

Tartuffe,
Thanks for the response. I am still removing all the bulkheads and stringers. I have been debating on what material to use on the stringers and bulkheads. I haven't started with floor yet. Going to try and finish one part at a time. Where did you get your stainless hardware. I have already seen the results of big box SS hardware. Starts rusting in a matter of months.

That's because just like steel, there are different grades of Stainless Steel. There is 201, 301, 304, 305, 310, 316, 321, 347, 409, 410, 430, 439 and 441. Most big box stuff from China is type 201, which has a reduced amount of Nickle in it. Looks pretty, but Nickel and Chromium are the 2 major ingredients in SS for corrosion resistance. (IF you are forced to buy that stuff, buy a can of Helmsman spray Urethane and coat each part with it. The Urethane forms a barrier that will resist water from getting to the SS fittings). Much better would be to use type 304, 304 DQ or 305 SS, all of which have excellent corrosion resistance (because they have higher amounts of Nickel) and are what most marine fittings are made from. Don't worry about the other grades, they are mostly for industrial applications like strength, work hardening, or heat treating or the ilk.

I bought big box and have been trading out each time I go to west Marine. I probably will pay 5 times more over time but it's just easier given I am doing 3 screws here, 8 bolts there every few months but it's frustrating nonetheless.