Questions about removing the cap

I'm debating whether to double-down on my transom project and go full bore into a cap off restore & paint.

To you guys that have removed the cap..Tartuffe, Ridge, anyone else;

How difficult was it to break free from glue on the stringers?
(I have found most of mine has broken free already and is laying in the bilge).

I think I can pull the cap with a chain hoist, is that realistic?

How heavy are the two halves...meaning, can a couple guys move them around, flip them over, etc. Or do I really need a forklift.

Are there any "Sh!P, I wish I knew that BEFORE I broke it" things to know?

Did you use resin/adhesive to glue it back or did you use fasteners?
 
Haven't done a cap off on a V-20 myself, but here to offer moral support!

I would recommend having more than a couple guys to move them around, or heavier equipment like a set of decent gantry cranes. Scaffolding and a pair of chain hoists would work if set up right. The hulls are reported to weigh 1920 lbs from Wellcraft before they had all the bolt on stuff and years of water logging etc. Dividing that weight between the hull and cap is still a decent amount of weight to get away from you if you find the weak link in whatever your rigging equipment ends up being. What you lack in technical prowess you need to make up for in redneck ingenuity. What I have found messing around with project boats is that having the right stuff to do the job makes things a whole lot easier, safer, and fewer mishaps.
 
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I think a chain hoist would do just fine. The cap is sort of flemsy once removed from the hull. Especially in the rear where the transom is cut down. I would/did fasten a board across the transom cap from one side to the other in several places. It will sturdy up the sides and allow the liner to keep its general shape. As you may recall I removed the liner from the hull with the help of my overweight set of friends,(Mitsu and Cat, and Cat Jr.) I used some dock lines tied to the rear corners and used a piece of 2x4 - approx 30" long. I placed the 2x4 in one of the forward hatches and tied a piece of rode in the center so that when lifted the 2x4 would catch on the edges of the liner. From there the lifting began. Wedges installed between stringers and liner to aid in the breaking loose process. Preferably the hull will be on a trailer and you can lift the liner up high enough in yonder tree so you can pull the hull out from under...
Something like that in any case... If I had it to do over I would replace every stitch of wood in the hull, with composite. Never again however... I am with Bradford... Moral support,opine giver...
You can do it
 
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