how to lift an organizer

[joe phibbs]

Help! The mainsheet sheeve on the deck organizer on our 1986 Hunter 31 is cracked, broken and now siezes the line as it passes through under load. I removed the two 1/4-20 2" long bolts but the fixture will not move. I am concerned about bringing up part of the coachroof gelcoat if I pry it up with a long screwdriver and a narrow chisel. What else could be holding it on: 5200? We could drill out the four poprivits and lift the top half of the organizer off, replace the sheaves, rebolt the top and use #10 panhead screws shallow into the plastic. But we would need to have the new sheaves in-hand before we started. Forget the boating boxstores for that item! This will be a learning experience, as the genoa cheek block sheaves are close to shattering as well. Thanks for any helpful comments. joe

 

[Stirling Hasen]

5200 vs Heat (TKO)

Hi Joe,I have become somewhat of an expert when it comes to removing stuff that is held down with 5200. In restoring my Hunter 54 I found the teak deck was glued using 5200, along with about every other item on the dang boat.Method ONE: (Guitar String)Get a Pack of Guitar Strings grab the smallest diameter one in the pack of six. and get something that could be used for handles. Wrap the wire around the handle and tie off with a bowline knot, do this on the other end as well. Put on some leather gloves. Insert the wire in between the organizer and the gel coat at a corner and work your way through all of the 5200 alternating the handles so the wire makes a sawing action through the 5200. Method TWO (Hot putty knife)Tools needed:About a 1" wide thin METAL putty knife, you might want to file the sharp edges so they are round. That way there is less chance of gouging your gel-coat. Thick leather gloves.Heat gun.Eye Protection. Something long to pry with that will fit inside the organizer (example a long Phillips screwdriver)Put the gloves on,If you can't get the putty knife in between the gel-coat and the organizer then try inserting something into the organizer and gently exert some upwards force to lift the edge of the organizer enough to be able to insert the putty knife in between the gel-coat and the organizer.If you can do that then go to the next step.Heat the putty knife with the heat gun for a while. 5200 is strong up to about 190 degrees So it needs to be a little hotter than that. Again gently insert something into the organizer and gently exert some upward pressure to aid in getting the hot putty knife under the organizer. Shove the putty knife under the organizer, while bending the putty knife upwards a bit so that the hot steel does not come in contact with the gel-coat surrounding the organizer. The hot putty knife should eat through the 5200 with little difficulty. Pull the putty knife out, repeat by heating, and inserting until you are able to remove the organizer.Good luck and be careful!