Removing vent boxes

bigeasy1 · #1 12-23-2006, 02:31 PM

I'm in the process of restoring a 74 Tsunami,and just removed the vent boxes you asked about.
They are plastic,and are bedded directly to the hull,not the liner.Mine were attached to the hull with big sloppy globs of what looked like some putty made with some thickend resin.
They didn't come off easily,i had to use the Roto-zip,and a chisel to get the globs of gook off,so i could remove the boxes.Also keep in mind,that i had the rear cap,and inner stern liner removed.I don't know how you'd be able to easily remove them without doing this.
Maybe the following photos will be of some help to you.

ready to be removed,you can see where i had to crack the thickened resin.

starting to remove the box

box now removed from hull

Showing liner cut and starboard side.

Good luck with your project.

dcobbett · #2 12-23-2006, 03:25 PM

John123,

Great pictures. Thanks. Just what I needed to see.

want2fish,

There is a 1/2"+/_ wide steel flange on the back side of the steel vent grates that were on my hull. The flange measures 3-1/2" x 11-7/8"-. I've seen them for sale in various catalogs and retail @ BoatUS.

Finster · #3 12-23-2006, 04:35 PM

I think they used several methods. On my '78 they were simply molded black plastic boxes, rivited in place. I yanked'em.

bigeasy1 · #4 12-23-2006, 09:16 PM

I think you're right that they used several methods.My boxes in the pictures were also plastic,but they glassed completely over them.
I think that in the early seventies,a lot depended on who was doing the layup that particular day.I hate to say it,but the glass work in this boat,was very sloppy in the unseen areas like the bilge etc.
Several areas of way too much resin(puddles),and others of resin starved glass.I know it's not pleasant work,and they didn't have the working conditions of today.God only knows what these guys earned to do this dirty work. It's probably why there seems to be a big difference between some boats of the same year and models.