Hi Rick,

One of the twenty some odd jobs I held when I was growing up was a swimming pool installer. Doing that I learned that you can cut PVC with a piece of nylon string. What am I talking about you ask? Well I am building my first strip boat myself and also trying not to use staples. When I did a hot glue removal test I saw that it was easy to rip the wood. Remembering my experience with the string I tried that. Starting at the shear strip and working around the form it was very easy to simply saw the sting through the glue without using a tool that might gouge the wood. I have an internal strong back to hold my forms in place and I plan to release the hull from the forms without actually removing it before I start the deck. Then I hope to fair and sand both at the same time and go from there.

In your case you could add a couple of small spots of hot glue to hold the forms in place after you have sawn through the hot glue you used to install the hull strips. That should hold the forms in place to start your deck and should make removing the hull much easier.

This is just a thought from an new and inexperienced builder. No doubt the more experienced builders can point out some problems with this procedure that I haven't thought of.

Kyle T