[C38] Changing Portside Main Bulkhead

[Patrick Harpole]

Chuck 
Great advice.
You can do anything
Patrick 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 12, 2021, at 8:33 AM, Charles Finn <Charles at finn.ws> wrote:
> 
> 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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