[C38] Changing Portside Main Bulkhead

[Charles Finn]

Reed,

I did this some time ago and it is possible with the mast in the boat.

I first relieved stress on the hull by loosening up my stays (not too far).
I then cut the existing bulkhead in half horizontally and removed the 
fasteners along the cabin roof.
Nest were the fasteners in the head.
And finally the fasteners along the bottom of the bulkhead.
Some for the fasteners were partially embedded in the fiberglass and I 
had to grind a bit.

The removed bulkhead is your template for making your new one, so try 
and figure out what it looked like in the area that is rotted.  I made a 
cardboard template of that area and attached it to the lower piece of 
bulkhead.

I was able to find some marine teak plywood (double sided).  I used 1/2 
inch.

I did all the finishing on the new bulkhead prior to installing, knowing 
there would be touch up later.  I treated the edges where I had rot in 
the old bulkhead and all the edges with a penetrating epoxy.  I used 
Smiths penetrating expoxy which really needs to be used outdoors!

I slipped the new bulkhead in working from the starboard (at least that 
is my memory but it have been from the port side) side to get around the 
mast.  The 1/2 in plywood would bend enough to make this work.  The 
important thing here is you can get new bulkhead in without removing the 
mast!

I reinforced the bottom edge of the plywood on the head side with a 1 
inch teak board.

The new bulkhead looks and works great.  Yes this is a big project, but 
this bulkhead is structurally key to our boat and you will find your 
stay adjustment will be quite different (which is a good thing).

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn  #114
Lake Superior


On 2/11/2021 3:24 PM, W. Reed Smith wrote:
> All:
>
> I apologize if this is repetitious.  I think that someone asked about a bulkhead a Few months ago.
>
> My port mainbulkead is rotten by the chainplate for the inside stay ( closest to keel, bolts show through bulkhead).  I will need to change bulkhead.
>
> Any advice would be very much appreciated.  For example :  Can I change the bulkhead with the mast still up?  Also, is it possible to change the bulkhead without ruining the bathroom wall?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Reed
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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