MA topcap help!!

[chrisvazquez1]

i recently purchased a 1978 MA. im attempting to remove the top cap to recore. i have every bolt/screw removed. it seems that between the rear livewell compartment and inner transom skin there is a chunk of some sort of putty. the putty still has a very strong bond to the glass and im trying to preserve this compartment for later reuse. is anyone familiar with removing the top cap from these hulls and do you have any advice/ideas to remove with destroying the compartment. i tried a jack from underneath but it almost went straight through the compartment.thanks in advance.

[wtenglish]

That Potter's Putty can be tough to break free. I had the same problem with my forward compartments and used a bottle jack with a couple of short 1x4's to support the bottom and cap the top to give you a greater bearing surface area so the jack didn't punch through the fiberglass as you describe. At the same time with a friends help I used a longer 2x4 as a pry bar by resting it across a shorter 2x4. Everytime we raised it we would stick wedges in to maintain our progress and then reposition the tools. You just have to take it slow. I did have to do some repair work in both boxes from spider cracks in the gel coat opposite of the bonded portion. Good luck.

[Blue_Heron]

i recently purchased a 1978 MA.

Chris,
Are you still in Gainesville? Was that you I saw on Sunday morning pulling a MA down SW 34th St. near Williston Road?

[chrisvazquez1]

yes sir that would be me! if you couldnt tell though shes quite the project.hope to have her done by spring.