About to defoam - need tool list

[ATS_Aaron]

A sad chain of events occurred Friday night. My un-fused bilge pump power wire got rubbed and then grounded to my E-box and I fried the wiring on my stator. I have checked everything out and so far the only victims are two wires going to the stator.

However, the whole episode prompted me to realize that I don't need to be riding a half-assed ski. I pulled the entire motor today and I will be swapping cranks to fix my key-way. Plus I am installing an Advent T4 CDI and a new TBM flywheel.

My turf looks awful and my foam is pretty wet so it's time to get to work. I'm headed to the hardware store to get a thin putty knife to scrape the padding/glue off the tray and a wire wheel for my cordless drill so I can get the tray clean.


What is the best tool to use to cut the tray out of the ski?

Right now the plan is to use polystyrene as much as possible and then pour 2 part foam over that to fill the gaps. Polystyrene claims it won't water log for 10 years.

Thanks,

Aaron

 

[sflsurfrider]

shovel!
:wavey:

 

[GDFL]

I have had good luck with rotozip side cutting bits in a dremel tool for cutting. You'll go through a few as they dull quickly. To de-foam, the best that I have found is a wire wheel cup on a very very long drill bit extension. You can find all of that at lowes or home depot. the drill bit extension I use is at least 18" long.

 

[rasper99]

Eye protection and something so you don't breath in the dust. Imagine what is growing in that foam that would love to meet your lungs.

 

[Motorheads5]

2500 p.s.i. pressure washer to remove the foam unreal how good it work's no dust either good luck

 

[JonnyB]

2500 p.s.i. Pressure washer to remove the foam unreal how good it work's no dust either good luck

x2

 

[D-Roc]

i use a dewalt DW660 drywall cutout tool, the glass will heat up the bits and snap them when you get greedy on the pressure you apply but the work good. digout the big chunks with flat screw driver, then hit it with the pressure washer, 0 degree will cut thru the hull if you keep it in one spot but it blasts it out quick. use saftey gogs. cut the tray out to give yourself room to work.

 

[wayne]

swooperjet and i used a dremel to cut out our trays. do the pressure washer, digging it out and grinding it out sucks. you can pick me or boyd's brain if you need. we did this two winters ago.

 

[Waternut]

I was debating the pressure washer before my last defoaming but never got around to buying one.

I just went with the old faithful claw hammer, long screwdriver, and the wire brush to get the rest.

 

[ATS_Aaron]

Thanks guys. I used a saws-all to cut my tray out. Not recommended because it goes too deep too easily. I made it work though. I almost cut my trim tube, but realized it was there just as I put a nick in it.

This is a Wamilton's hull. Their scupper tubes are weird. They aren't pipes or tubes, they are fiberglass U's bonded in upside down to combine with the bottom of the hull to make a D shaped tunnel. Weird looking. Also VERY difficult to get around and get the foam out.

I have a $100 POS pressure washer, but it was worth it's weight in gold today. I got the bigger chunks out with a small wrecking bar type thing and the shop vac. I waited until I had most of it out to use the pressure washer because we don't have storm drains here, so whatever I washed out ends up in my neighbors back yard. Oh yeah, I also used a wood spoon bit in my cordless drill. I cut the sharp tip off so I didn't poke (many) holes in the hull (I put 2 holes in the scupper tunnels...oops)

I hope I didn't screw up with the way I cut it. I cut along the TOP of the gunwales and then one cut up the middle. The tray, sides and footholds came out in just 2 pieces.

Total time was about 5 hours. I had a 30 minute break in there that I used to disassembled my engine while my Makita batteries charged up.

Thanks for the tips so far.

Aaron