Flounder,

The cap really just pops off. I didn't take any pic of that process. It's pretty simple though. I made a lift out of 6x6 and double 2x10 cross-beam.

I used two 880lb electric hoists I picked up at harbor freight. Make sure you lift from the floor hatches and not from the gunwale sides. The cap will flex too much upon lifting. I just used a 4x4 as a lifting block catching the sides of the back-most hatch and the forward hatch. The 4x4 catches the deck on either side of the hatches for better lifting without flex. There is a grout material that was used for leveling the deck on the stringers and bulkheads. It took a little persuasion but it just popped loose eventually.

MJ, I just mean doing the deconsruction phase of the transom first. Then I will move forward with the chaos. I will certainly tie the knees into the transom when I redo the stringers.

Here is the transom with all the core pulled out. The wood you see is just a small layer that needs to be sanded off.

I should have all that sanded out tomorrow.


Chris