Lifting up the deck

[Chanchan168]

Hi guys and girls. I’ve got a bit of a dilemma that I’m hopeful you might be able to assist me with.

I’ve got a appx 300l integrated ally tank below the deck of my 02 ballistic 7.2 that I know is leaking somewhere. The boat also went under on its harbour mooring when the seam slpit on my starboard tube at the transom. No damage to motor, it’s been serviced and runs up fine.

I’ve ripped up all of the seats and in the middle of a complete refurb so all the fuel lines nad electrics are being replaced. The deck at this point is clear, bar the console which is easy to remove.

I’d like to know how easy/hard it is the cut the deck out around the tank and lift the tank out for inspection and fixing?

I’m ok with glassing it back in but how do I find the relevant stringers to cut along?

Thanks in advance

Craig

[Pete7]

You need to speak to Matt (Nos42r) and then go and lie down in a darkened room.

Pete

[Chanchan168]

Oh great. Sounds like fun

[jezza101]

It’s a painful job!

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by jezza101

It’s a painful job!

Any further details than that?

[daffyboats]

Hi Craig
I've just done exactly the same thing on a 7.5 metre Ribtec .
I carefully made a 25mm hole with a hole saw , measured the thickness of the deck and then set up my skill saw to exactly that depth .
I then cut a square in the centre of the boat about 300mm and could then measure and mark the stringers and bearers and cut more accurately.
I've attached some pics , it's a lot of work but worth it in the end .

Good Luck

Matt

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by daffyboats

Hi Craig
I've just done exactly the same thing on a 7.5 metre Ribtec .
I carefully made a 25mm hole with a hole saw , measured the thickness of the deck and then set up my skill saw to exactly that depth .
I then cut a square in the centre of the boat about 300mm and could then measure and mark the stringers and bearers and cut more accurately.
I've attached some pics , it's a lot of work but worth it in the end .

Good Luck

Matt
Attachment 123432Attachment 123433Attachment 123434

Thanks Matt,

Pictures are great. I have a drop in saw, which works like a circular saw, and I’ve got a couple of inspection hatches to work the depth out. Take it you just keep cutting out til you find the stringers??

By doing this, the deck you cut out becomes useless and has to be replaced?? No bad thing.

Thanks Matt, appreciated

[Chanchan168]

Forgot to say that the job looks neat and well glassed. Did you find it fairly straight forward?

[daffyboats]

Yes I just kept making a bigger hole until all of the rotten wood had gone then reinforced with ply (which you can see in the pics ) to carry the timber into.
Should have attached one of the finished boat as well so here it is.
Cheers

Matt

[Chanchan168]

Lovely job mate. Looks nice.

Take it the replaced deck is just marine or exterior ply, then glassed over the top to tie in with existing deck.

Sorry for so many questions

[daffyboats]

No worries
Yes the deck is 18mm marine ply ,glassed over and painted with Hempel multicoat.
Matt

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by daffyboats

No worries
Yes the deck is 18mm marine ply ,glassed over and painted with Hempel multicoat.
Matt

Brilliant Thanks Matt

[Nos4r2]

Just seen that yours is a 2002 hull. Does it have a Mako builders plate on it or a Boating Dynamix plate? I think your deck is different to mine.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Pete7

You need to speak to Matt (Nos42r) and then go and lie down in a darkened room.

I've spoken to him once, and I was fine afterwards?

[mhb100]

You should be able to feel and cut back from where all the pipes come up in the consul and from the sender unit hatch. I also have an inspection hatch into the tank at the stern. The only person I know that had done a 7.2m is biffer a couple of years ago. Lots of posts on it at the time. Mine needs doing the same but I'm going to run it this year from the 100l I put in the consul and the 2 bladders in the bow locker. I think the original tank was 220ltr. Unless your 100% your doing it why not cut a section out under your double jockey to see the state if things. Have you had a camera in the tank? Is it a split seam that could be repaired by creating an inspection area to fix?

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by willk

I've spoken to him once, and I was fine afterwards?

I wasn't!

It was the james Bond style 'excuse me, there's someone on the phone that wants to speak to you' from a random passer by.

Nearly gave me a seizure

[willk]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

...from a random passer by.

Random. Sure....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lweuy1X9Tcg&t=5s

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Just seen that yours is a 2002 hull. Does it have a Mako builders plate on it or a Boating Dynamix plate? I think your deck is different to mine.

No matt, no plate, but as it’s an 02 I think it was a mako build. Here’s the deck pic

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by mhb100

You should be able to feel and cut back from where all the pipes come up in the consul and from the sender unit hatch. I also have an inspection hatch into the tank at the stern. The only person I know that had done a 7.2m is biffer a couple of years ago. Lots of posts on it at the time. Mine needs doing the same but I'm going to run it this year from the 100l I put in the consul and the 2 bladders in the bow locker. I think the original tank was 220ltr. Unless your 100% your doing it why not cut a section out under your double jockey to see the state if things. Have you had a camera in the tank? Is it a split seam that could be repaired by creating an inspection area to fix?

Got the same hatch in the rear. The previous guy said he always had water in the fuel and I’ve git a feeling ther s water or fuel under the deck

[mhb100]

Jack up trailer safely beyond the normal top jockey height and see if you get a rush of fuel in the bilge. From the rear inspection I can see mine is stainless not alloy and has baffles so internal bladder option is out. I'd get a camera in it incase your lucky and it's something like some jockey seat bolts worn top of tank. perhaps do a pressure test first. You don't want to go taking up the floor unless your sure it's faulty.