Hunter 31 sole information and help with 5200

[HMT2]

I know there are a few folks out there that are redoing/replacing the sole on their Hunter 31's. I went to take out the the part under the vberth and discovered something horrifying! There were only two screws holding it down, I got them out and discovered that the sole under the vberth is glued down with that 3M 5200. Arrrrrgghhhh! I have most of the wood scraped up but the 5200 remains adhered to the fiberglass, any tricks for getting the 5200 up? Also, for those replacing your soles that piece is 1/2 inch. I believe the rest to be 3/4. Just letting you know.

 

[Allan12210]

Would a single edged razor blade in a scraper cut the material flush with the mounting surface? Or a Harbor Freight Multitool with the sharp scraper blade?

Regarding the plywood: use 3/4 inch thick but relieve the back side at the mounting points by 1/4 inch using a router. That will enable it to sit lower.

 

[HMT2]

Allan, this piece is different, the entire piece sets on fiberglass. No way to relieve 3/4 to sit lower. Here are a couple of picks with about a third of the wood left to scrape up.

.

 

[HMT2]

Ok, here is an update on my '83 H31 sole project. I was surprised when I started pulling up the sole nearest the Vberth that the teak and holly plywood was 1/2 inch, unlike the rest of the sole which is 3/4. Also, when I started pulling up that area I discovered that it was glued down with what I am assuming is 3m 5200. I got the top portion of the plywood up and was able to keep it for a pattern. I was able to get up the remaining part of the plywood with a serious putty knife and a hammer. Allan your suggestion of a sharp razor scraper was a good one and I was able to get up about 90% of the 5200 with the razor blade, it only took about twenty minutes. I will us acetone to clean up any remaining residue. I tried the 3/4 inch teak and holly and it is simply too tall so I am going with the 1/2 inch in the vberth area and will likely glue it done.

 

[SFS]

HMT2, are you going to have to take out that locker across from the head door in order to get the new sole down? If so, do you know how it comes out?

 

[HMT2]

Ray, I don't think I will have to mess with the locker. I think I can slide it into place from the front. The concern is if the new 1/2 inch will fit under the bulkhead between the vberth and the head, roughly where my West Marine dehumidifier is in the first picture. I'll let you know, I have cut my piece of 1/2 inch and am going to fit it tomorrow.

 

[HMT2]

An update. I did have to take the head door and the bulkhead out to get that 1/2 inch piece of teak and holly in. For those of you that are thinking of replacing your sole here's what I learned. Take everything that looks like it's in your way out...because it's in the way. Also, you can often remove the pieces of your cabinetry by removing the cleat from where it is screwed in. But right now its Miller Time! I only have the table left to put in and that is easypeasy. Sole replaced and refinished! Besides it was too windy to sail in H-town today. So what's next? ....More beer!

 

[51RD55]

Wow, looks great! Love your upholstery

 

[pateco]

Is your engine lid hinged? Mine just drops in.

 

[HMT2]

Pateco, my engine lid is hinged, it is a stainless piano hinge. I like it, we have a hook and eye set up to hold it open. You can just see the eye in the picture.

 

[Dfisher]

HMT2 - that looks great. I have the sole out of my 86 H31 and I'm looking to reinstall in the next couple weeks. I was able to notch the piece by the nav station for removal but will need to do something else to get the new piece in. Any tips on how to loose the nav station to slip the new piece in?

 

[HMT2]

DFisher,

Here is a picture of what I had to do to get it back in. How much of your sole are you doing? My PO turned the space under the nav table into a battery box. I had to remove it and the angled side piece to what we call the rum locker. I also cut the bottom of the board near the battery to allow me to get the sole in. PM me if you need any help or have some more questions.

 

[Dfisher]

Awesome....thank you for the quick response. I'm doing the entire sole. SO it looks like the entire trim piece by the fire extinguisher needs to come out? I was hoping that wasn't the case because I had just refinished that and did not want to drill the teak plugs out. Also, did you say the v-birth section was 1/2"? Mine was 1/4" but I plan on replacing with 1/2". Thanks again

 

[HMT2]

Yes mine was 1/2 in the fore peak. You might try unscrewing the cleats and see if that will let you take the entire front off

 

[SFS]

@Dfisher, see also this thread:
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/i...f-soles-in-a-1983-h31.180828/&highlight=soles

In it I give some detail on what I did to make the nav station moveable enough to make getting that aft sole back in place. Sorry I don't have time to direct you to specific post numbers. HMT2 was a lot of help to me during the process, and I documented as much as possible.

I have not done my v-berth sole, so I'm no help there.