I'm replacing the baffled tips in favor of open tips on my Stingray 230SX. The tips are bonded to the hull with I guess 5200. How should I break the tips loose without taking half the gelcoat with them?

Hi,

If 5200 was the bonding material, use heat from a torch. You can buy a small propane torch at Home Depot or similar. Heat the ring (avoid the gel coat), I'm not certain of the exact temperature, but not a great deal of time, say less than 1 minute, the piece will come off with only minimal prying between the transom face and the transom side of the tile pipe collar.

Good luck,

Steve

Had the same dilema last year, I used a utility knife to score the joint between the ring and the gel then used a thin putty knife to work between, back to the body of the tip. Once cut all the way in, try twisting and it should release.

What Steve David said. Been there, done that. Works very well.

There is also a product called 2015 Anti Bond that will dissolve the 5200. I have used it to debond and clean off 5200-it really works well. Boat US, et al have it.

What Too Old said - I took the tips off my old Donzi. Was just white silicone back there.

I just removed my exhaust tips this weekend. I could not get a chisel or putty knife under the mounting flange. Solvent would not work as the joint was too tight. So, I used a block of wood & a mallet. One quick, firm "rap" was all it took to break the seal of the silicone/RTV sealant. They then came off easy.
TIP: remove all screws except one. Leave it with about 1" of thread exposed, then the exhaust tip won't fall to the ground.
Just another way!

I removed some tips that had been on for 10 years. The silicone on transom was not the only difficuty. The exhaust hose was almost welded on. I didn't want to remove the riser from manifold so I used a 36 in pipe wrench on the tips and rotated just slightly to break the bond. They slid right out. I wrapped tips with heavy tape before I used the wrench to avoid scratches. It worked well for me.

Good luck.

Hummmmm???? Regarding the 36" pipe wrench, I wonder if a strap (oil filter type) wrench would work also.....no scratches either>>>>>????

I used a small torch and that worked great. Thanks to all that responded.