Removing heavy duty pad eye from Deck

[Jumpstart]

On my new to me boat the PO had installed a heavy duty pad eye for attachment of a pole down hole. We launch our spinnakers from the forward hatch and when hatch opens it can fall aft and hit the pad eye squarely in the middle of the hatch cracking the plexiglass. That happened to PO so I had hatch glass replaced.

I got the 4 bolts out holding the pad eye but fitting won't budge. White sealant holding it down so tight that a putty knife won't fit underneath it. Hopefully white sealant is 4200 and not 5200. Any thoughts. I really don't want to tear up the gelcoat if I can help it.

 

[dlochner]

Try an oscillating tool with a thin scraper blade. It will even cut through 5200.

 

[CloudDiver]

Try an oscillating tool with a thin scraper blade. It will even cut through 5200.

Exactly. The flat drywall blade that has saw-teeth at the end if the scrapper blade does not do it.
If you believe it really is 5200 you could try De-bond (I think that's what they call it) which will dissolve the 5200. Not sure what it would do to gelcoat, so tape the area off.

 

[Dave Groshong]

We have the Debond here:
https://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?1677

 

[EV21]

I can't confirm this from experience (yet) but I've been told by a tech rep from a respected marine equipment supplier that boiling water can weaken even 5200 enough to get it to let go. Imagine it would still need some work but might be a little less harmful to gel coat than more mechanical methods.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I've been told by a tech rep from a respected marine equipment supplier that boiling water can weaken even 5200 enough to get it to let go.

Would that mean that a heat gun or a propane torch would work too or does there need to be water? I would guess the water was just to keep the heat level down so maybe a careful application of heat to the padeye would work.
Here is a link to a site that compares two debonding agents for marine use. Both are advertised for use with 5200.
https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/uncategorized/removing-the-un-removable
From the Web site: "If I have to remove or de-bond 3M Fast Cure 4000 UV (or any other polyether-type adhesive) in the future, I’ll go with Anti-Bond 2015. It produces a decent result, while doing virtually no damage to the surrounding gel coat."

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Ken Cross]

I've used a thin wire tied onto wooden handles in a sawing motion, but only if you can get it under the edge.
Ken

 

[thinwater]

DeBond Marine Formula. Specific to polyurethanes, and formulated with 5200 in mind. Score the edge of the bond zone, give it some time to soak, and you can probably pry it apart without damage. I've used it on 5200 and 4200.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_82/features/Removing-3M-5200_12286-1.html

 

[thinwater]

DeBond Marine Formula. Specific to polyurethanes, and formulated with 5200 in mind. Score the edge of the bond zone, give it some time to soak, and you can probably pry it apart without damage. You may have to repeat several times (score, soak, work a for a minute, score again, soak...). I've used it on 5200 and 4200. Not super fast, but quite effective.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_82/features/Removing-3M-5200_12286-1.html

 

[rgranger]

I can't confirm this from experience (yet) but I've been told by a tech rep from a respected marine equipment supplier that boiling water can weaken even 5200 enough to get it to let go. Imagine it would still need some work but might be a little less harmful to gel coat than more mechanical methods.

I was going to recommend a hair dryer. Same idea.