Anybody ever cut up a fiberglass boat?

[Canyon Angler]

I've got a worthless FRP boat somebody abandoned here that I need to get rid of. I once tried cutting it up with a sawzall but friction heated up the blade FAST and once the blade got hot and lost its hardening/temper, it was like trying to use a plastic saw blade.

Seems like I've seen them cut up with chainsaws somewhere ... has anyone done this? Any tips?

Thanks.

 

[Ash_403]

I've never tried to cut fiberglass. How about trying an abrasive cutting wheel? (Wear a mask though, if you try.)

 

[cuinrearview]

I love the way you roll OP.

A friend tried to get me to come cut up a hot tub for him. It never worked out for me to get over there.

 

[AuerX]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-...g-Reciprocating-Saw-Blade-DS0930DGX/203464868

 

[ironman_gq]

carbide demolition blade for the sawzall will make quick work of it, lowes has them and they aren't relatively cheap too.

 

[Yotaismygame]

Wear a mask unless you like breathing in fiberglass.... Would a circular saw not work?

Sounds like a situation I had in my neighborhood. Someone ditched a junk fiberglass boat and left a note stating they would return. It was there for six weeks until the city finally came and got it. I was very tempted to haul it to the nearest bus stop so the city would get off their lazy butts and move it asap.

 

[Deleted member 117362]

I've got a worthless FRP boat somebody abandoned here that I need to get rid of. I once tried cutting it up with a sawzall but friction heated up the blade FAST and once the blade got hot and lost its hardening/temper, it was like trying to use a plastic saw blade.

Seems like I've seen them cut up with chainsaws somewhere ... has anyone done this? Any tips?

Thanks.

My Coast Guard son has watched Customs cut up go fast drug running fiberglass boats a few times. They used carbide chains and even borrow local fire departments saw if cutting up a large boat. Watching them cut up 250-500 thousand dollar boats brought a tear to his eye.

 

[Gypo Logger]

I can’t say I’ve ever cut up a boat before, but I felled a tree on one once.

 

[farmer steve]

Skip chain and 32:1..............

 

[Del_]

I tried to cut one up once.

Never again. In fact, I gave up on the first one.

Fiberglass boats are tough!

 

[Lionsfan]

My neighbor has cut up a bunch of them with a chainsaw. He says the toughest part is finding an unguarded dumpster to put it in when you've got it all cut up into chunks. He wears disposable paint suits and the disposable head cover.

 

[buttercup]

You need diamond or carbide tools, like the one AuerX posted a link to. Anything else will last less than 30 seconds. I would use an angle cutter with a diamond blade, yes I have done it before - not a boat but a 1000 liters paraffin tank.

 

[Yoopermike]

I brought mine to the land fill, had the excavator rip it off the trailer and smash it up in a quick hurry.... best $36 I've spent.. well maybe not the best but, definitely entertaining!

 

[jonsereds 621]

Yes... I have cut up fibreglass dinghies (14 ft ish) ,kerosene tanks, tractor rear tyres (not the bead), fibreglass lorry trailer roofs Fiberglass cuts no trouble(check for reinforcing) however I recommend you do everything you can to keep the fibres out of your lungs and eyes. It also itches like hell, so stop it getting down your shirt somehow, and reckon on a good long shower when you are done and before you cool down, Or you will regret it.
Strangest thing I ever cut up was a 5 gal drum solid full of lead which a builder gave me after they had it in their bonfire for a day....fed it with all the old lead pipe they could find....which I wanted for shotgun pellets, they said I could have it if I could get it out of their pickup alone. Well I couldn't, so lifted it out with a loader, it might have weighed 450 lbs ish.
Cut it into cookies once I got the tin off, then smaller with a sharp axe. still got a few bits of it after 35yrs. Made a lot of shot, and various projectiles. Would have made a good advert for Jonsereds !

 

[champion221elite]

I cut up a fiberglass bathtub this past winter. It made a huge mess in my yard, and seemed like it dulled the chain really fast. Doubtful I would ever do that again!

 

[TheTone]

Yes... I have cut up fibreglass dinghies (14 ft ish) ,kerosene tanks, tractor rear tyres (not the bead), fibreglass lorry trailer roofs Fiberglass cuts no trouble(check for reinforcing) however I recommend you do everything you can to keep the fibres out of your lungs and eyes. It also itches like hell, so stop it getting down your shirt somehow, and reckon on a good long shower when you are done and before you cool down, Or you will regret it.
Strangest thing I ever cut up was a 5 gal drum solid full of lead which a builder gave me after they had it in their bonfire for a day....fed it with all the old lead pipe they could find....which I wanted for shotgun pellets, they said I could have it if I could get it out of their pickup alone. Well I couldn't, so lifted it out with a loader, it might have weighed 450 lbs ish.
Cut it into cookies once I got the tin off, then smaller with a sharp axe. still got a few bits of it after 35yrs. Made a lot of shot, and various projectiles. Would have made a good advert for Jonsereds !

https://www.arboristsite.com/commun...hat-turn-cylinders.334945/page-3#post-6988644

 

[Deleted member 150358]

My nieghbor did a tri-hull his brother in law abandoned at his place. Spanking new Jred 2255 cut the boat small enough to toss in a roll off by hand. His brother in law still growls about it.

 

[svk]

Around here they bust those up with a backhoe and bring the pieces to a disposal site that takes demo.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I cut up a fiberglass car hood recently using a reciprocating saw with a blade made for cutting metal. Just take your time and wear a painter's mask, there's lots of dust. I cut this one up into pieces about 6" by 3" so I could dispose of it easily. I have a trunk lid to do next...

 

[Ted Jenkins]

I use a skilsaw and a precipitating blade, but they must be lubricated with a water oil mixture or just oil. To keep dust to a minimum a large fan blowing away from you to keep dust out of your face. Thanks