[C38] Changing Portside Main Bulkhead
Charles Finn
Charles at finn.ws
Fri Feb 12 12:50:56 EST 2021
Pierre,
Thanks for the compliments from both you and Patrick, but this job
really is a pretty much low skill endeavor! It really entails unbolting
the old one and using it as a template for the new one. Cutting
tolerances are probably about a 1/4 inch as all the edges are hidden.
It just looks scary!
The port side chain plate and the vent for the holding tank both present
opportunities for leaks that run down the bulkhead and pool water along
it's lower and port side edges which of course eventually causes rot.
The hole for the chain plate to Stay connection is especially a problem
as it is on most boats. This is certainly an area that needs to be
looked at every year and sealed and re-sealed. Unfortunately, the
previous owner of my boat was not very attentive and I confess that
neither am I!
Since the bulkhead episode, I have been more attentive, but I now have
some deck compression in that area due to some deck core rot and I can
no longer get a good deck seal. My plans this summer are to totally
fill in the chainplate hole after a through cleaning and fill it in with
epoxy. I will then cut a new, smaller opening and re-install the stay.
Again, this is not rocket science.... it just takes a bit of time.
Fortunately with our stay system, I can totally disconnect the outer
stays without the mast falling down!
Best,
cf
On 2/12/2021 11:32 AM, Pierre Patino wrote:
> I am humbled by the projects that some of you undertake. I have zero
> expertise (probably negative expertise) in a project such as
> removing/replacing a bulkhead. I would leave that to the experts.
> However, I wonder, is such expertise common? And also, the fact that
> it needed to be done in the first place, is that just bad luck or is
> it preventable?
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 9:04 AM Patrick Harpole <1derful at comcast.net
> <mailto:1derful at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
> 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
> <mailto: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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