Stern Lazarette Locker Cover Recore

[Chance]

Our latest addition to the family happens to be 1966 Commander #256, recently hauled down from Falmouth, ME. Like any good owner, I've been taken the last week or two to absorb the why's and what the heck's from previous owners, and the work that I am commencing on to right previous wrongs.
I tried to post an image with the "manage attachments" button, but have not been successful in adding JPEGs from my hard drive. I get an internet explorer error after about 5 minutes into the process. Any idea how I go about inserting photos for you all, and to help illustrate my endeavors?
Okay, now I have just recored the stern lazarette locker (motor well) cover. The original 1/2" end grain balsa was completely rotted out and skin delamination on both the top and bottom. Mostly this was caused by three large holes 3-4 inches in diameter that were made some time ago, with NO effort to seal the exposed balsa core!
The only problem I have yet to figure out on this little project, if that's an adequate description of correcting one of the many problems, deferred maintenance or fixings that I'll be embarging on, is.....How do I remove the hinges from the lid? The stainless fasteners are welded (not really, but might as well be) to the aluminum, can we say extreme galvanic corrosion with no attempt to manage this abusive maritime activity. I recored and glassed but had to manuever around the hinge fasteners for fear of breaking the fiberglass perimeter if I dried to get the hinges off and out of the way. Any body have a trick to get frozen stainless fasteners dislodged from their aluminum parts they mount?
More to follow, and hopefully photos, after some guidance from you all, the experts.

Thanks,
Chance Smith
Camden, NC
C-256

[ebb]

Hello Chance,
I'm posting here to get you back onto the current opening page.

Hopefully someone here will be able to help you on posting pictures.

[Chance]

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc321/ChanceCD25/1966PEARSONCOMMANDER256031.jpg

[Chance]

Ebb,
Thanks. I'm trying to get photos posted, and looks like I'm sorta on the way.

Respectfully,
Chance

[commanderpete]

Drill Baby Drill!

Other methods are usually a waste of time.

Use a metal cutting bit smaller than the diameter of the screw. Sometimes when you get partly through the interior of the screw it loses its grip. You can also hacksaw off the nut.

Congratulations on the new boat!

[Chance]

Commander Pete,
Thanks for the tip. I'll have many opportunities to try it out.

I've also removed the backstay chainplate and knee. The knee needed replacing along with a modification to the chainplate. I'm having a new one fabricated from 316 stainless, 3/16 inch thick (vice 1/8) and have incorporated 5 mounting holes, two above the original three configuration. Previous owners had gone drill happy in the motor well, and now I have identified 18 holes that need filling and counting. I also drilled an 1 inch examination hole into the well sole, to evaluated the foam core. No apparaent water logging, thank goodness.
My efforts are focused on the aft section of her, motor well, cockpit, etc.. Although.....I have also identified and removed the port and stbd upper shroud chainplates and are having new ones made, but with a departure from the original. I'm having them made longer and they too, will incorporate 5 mounting holes into the bulkhead. Unfortunately the bulk heads had water intrusion on the tops around the former chainplate mounting area and the integrity has been greatly compromised. This leads me to the not so fun future project of removing and replacing the bulkheads and retabbing/glassing into place to accept the future chainplates.

Respectfully,
Chance