MCKILLOP

I am going to try to do this myself if possible. I can't imagine its very hard, as long as I am using the right tool for the job.
I need to cut two 8.875" holes in my cockpit and am wondering what steps should be taken and what tool to buy to do the cutting?

FIXX

first use masking tape over the area your cutting,if its around a carpeted area then no need to worry..if their is gelcoat on the area then you need to tape the area,this will keep the gel nice whyle cutting,,nest you drill a 1/2'' hole on the inside of the area,,get a jigsaw with a fine blade and start cutting but go slow,your not in race so take your time..if your cutting through fiberglass you may want to get a few xtra blades ecause they dull real quick..if you go slow with the jigsaw the blades will last longer..this is the cleanest method,,rotozip or any other fast moving tool seem to make a big mess..would help if you had a shop vac hose near the blade whyle cutting the hole to keep the fiberglass dust from inedding its self in the interior and carpet..

reinhardtsearay

first draw your template on the panel then if you have access to a oscillating tool with a cutting blade on it use that have someone hold a vacuum on it and take your time you will do fine ,cleaner cut than with a jig saw I even use the tools to cut out transoms now instead of a sawzall keeps the dust down. hope this helps Gary Linwood Fiberglass Repair & Canvas INC. Bay City MI.

4bus

Unfortunately I installed way too many speakers in my boat, and friends boats this year. I bought the best jig saw blades I could find and they still lose their teeth 1/4 way around the whole when cutting thick fiberglass.

I also used my high speed osolating multi tool, as suggested above, with the half circle cutting blade. I found this was the best and most comfortable method. I drew the circle, drilled a 1" hole in the center, cut an "x" with the sawzall, the cut the circles with the multi tool. I just let the fur fly and worried about cleanup at the end of each hole. Cockpit walls are the worse, unless you have an advanced composite layup like my friends 388 hustler, it was like cutting butter.

Sydwayz

RotoZip or similar cutting tool works great. Use the strongest bits you can find. I use the tile bits when shopping locally. If you go too fast, you will put too much stress on the bit and snap it. If you go too slow, you will heat up the bit, weaken it, and snap it. You will find a happy medium pretty quick.

Have your shop vacuum right there, and running right under your cut, as you are cutting. It saves a LOT of mess. Make sure you have the dust filter on your shop vac filter.

MCKILLOP

Thanks guys. I have a Rotozip so I might try that with some good blades. I assume Home Depot carries good blades? Is there one blade for the Rotozip someone can recommend buying?

US1 Fountain

Not familiar with RotoZip, but if you can get a carbide bit, get that

glassdave

Rotozip is ok but you need the bit for tile. Best blade for a jig saw is the carbide blades, the ones that look like sand on the edge

Plum_Crazy

+1

I cut 7 speaker holes on my boat and didn't have room for a jigsaw on any of them. I used a Dremel with a tile cutting bit. It's slow, but works great and doesn't chip the gelcoat. BTW, I used 4 bits for those 7 holes.

c_deezy

The laminate jigsaw blades work decent, but you will use quite a few of them as noted above. I found that slowing the blade speed way down helped, but still used quite a few blades.