I just received a 1976 ODay 22. The boat was parked in a wooded yard for the last 13 years. It had several inches of water in it from a plugged drain and years of rain. I got it home and power washed it. Looks a world different on the exterior- I've installed the mast in the process to check rigging and, if I'm honest, just to see it with the mast in place. This is my first boat- first sailboat so the little things are really inspiring at this point. On to my question: I'm gutting the interior and plan on replacing all the wood, as it was fairly rotten from all the water. Since the mast is in place can I remove the bulkhead between the cabinet with the sink and the head? Is this wooden bulkhead structural or adding to the fiberglasses support of the mast? I can certainly remove the mast again if need be- I'm just unsure if the fiberglass under the mast will support it in its own. I apologize for such a odd question- but this is all new to me
ODay bulkhead removal
- Thread starter Slawnski
- Start date
As long as you leave that 2x2 while the mast is up, yeah, I think you could pull the bulkhead. How does its structure (the 2x2) look at the bottom? Dig a knife point into it to check for softness. If it is soft, drop the mast to replace the 2x2.
Thanks for the reply-Glad I asked. I'll drop the mast- the whole floor of the cabin had 4-6 inches of water in it. I'm thinking not to trust the 2x2.
All wood removed and I made my first sweep through with a little bleach and water-
All wood removed and I made my first sweep through with a little bleach and water-
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Seems you could recover a lot of storage by removing all that silly styrofoam under the Vee berth!
I was thinking it was odd to have all that styrofoam- this really isn't enough flotation to keep the ship afloat, correct? Floatation had to be the reasoning for its placement. Does the plywood under the pads in the v birth area provide any structural support? I can certainly make access doors in the plywood for access to storage space. Again I am new to this so not sure what should be left alone structure wise.
No soft spots at deck penetrations. However, the cabin floor has a soft spot. What causes the soft spots?
Well, there was plenty of water intrusion as the boat sat for years. What do you do about places you can't get to the backside of? ( cabin floor ) live with a soft spot? Or remove some fiberglass from the topside? I might be able to get a look behind the soft spot with an inspection camera. I'll see if I can get a look at what's under that spot. Not sure I can post photos from the inspection gadget but I'll try.
Someone put it there out of anxiety. You keep your boat from sinking by sailing it rationally and keeping your hatches closed while sailing. Sailboats sink when water enters the hatches like the companionway. Water enters when the cockpit gets flooded from a knockdown or getting pooped. You would need more floatation than that to keep her afloat. Besides, only the bow would remain afloat if all the floatation is in the bow.
Got it. The foam blocks are coming out. Thank you all for the replies. I'll keep posting my progress.
Seems to be the way. Others have drilled numerous small holes in the topside and injected thinned epoxy into the rotted area.
Google "Git-Rot", or a System Three product called "Rot-Fix".
Plywood under the pads usualy isn't attached to the boat so they can be removed for a access.
A moisture meter might be a good idea before you start drilling and cutting
http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-...Ij_5dPe4xpEqSD9Jo2MYoRoC90Dw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I had a 1972 22 years ago and was mighty grateful for the styrofoam under the v berth (and under the cockpit!). I had unknowingly cracked the through hull for the sink drain while I was tied up to a dock. In those days, I moored my boat in a mooring field at my club. The cracked fitting let in a little water at a time on each side to side rock until the fitting was underwater at which point the boat filled with water to the top of the cockpit seats. The club called me and I got a ride to my boat. The engine started even though the battery was submerged (in a case) and I motored to the dock where I got pumped out and lifted ashore. That styrofoam saved my boat (and my bacon); without that foam my boat would have sunk in 12 ft of water.
Thanks Bob! I found a lot more foam under the cockpit this weekend. It was pretty gross and it was removed. I still have fans drying out the area under the cockpit. I very well may add this foam back as well as foam around the storage I'll make under the V births. Was this foam installed at the factory?
Hi Slawnski- I've got a 78 22 and am doing some modifications to make it more comfortable. I've restored quite a few boats before and bought the Oday to fiddle with, I don't recommend you do any of this being your first boat but thought you might find it interesting to see what others are doing. The Bulkheads are not tabbed to the hull so they are not providing much support, I found they were just screwed into the berths on the bottom. The center piece of trim would be considered a Compression post for the mast but could be made a bit stronger. I'm changing the layout to remove the bulkheads, being a 22 ft boat they really cut down on the room inside. I'm moving the chainplates to the outside of the hull. I've decided to use two compression posts to leave an area in the middle for a captains chair. They will be hooked together with a small beam. The side bunks don't have any back support so this is the only place I could find to put a comfy chair. Being under the hatch will allow a nice breeze too. Here's a before and work in progress picture.
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Looks good. Where is the beam going to go? I like that you've opened up the space. I'll go back to original layout but could see changing things around a bit.
Just a small support beam along the ceiling between the two poles to support the mast base more.