Leaking and soft wood help

[Jack75]

Hi everyone, took the bulkhead out this morning and found the leak source. The good news is the deck is solid no other issues that I can see. Took the bulkhead home to dry out and will see if I can just apply export to repair vs cut new. It wasn’t too bad and that looks like the only leak. I temporarily sealed the chain plate hole on the deck with sealant tape. I will upload a few photos. Thanks for the help.

 

[Jack75]

Here’s one more photo that shows the slot were the chainplate goes through the deck. It didn’t feel spongy or soft in there. I am going to cut a new bulkhead and just replace it. Will validate that this was the leak issue.

 

[Hardhead]

If you want to re-use the bulkhead molding on your new plywood - try tapping it with a block of wood with a hammer parallel to the existing bulkhead. It should tap right off, but it can be a little tricky - take it easy with it. If it cracks, I was able to just glue it back together after placing on the new bulkhead. Also, you might think of not drilling the new chainplate bolt holes, and bulkhead bottom attachment bolts, until you do a test fit of the new bulkhead, and actually do a test drop of the chainplate to the correct level back down through the deck. When I re-seated my new bulkheads, I probably should have been a small bit more aggressive with a rubber mallet, getting it to a tighter fit against the hull. Good luck with the project.

 

[Jack75]

Thanks for the tips will remove the molding with your technique and definitely do the dry fit! Thanks for the help.

 

[Gene Neill]

Even if you break the molding into several pieces, it can be successfully put back together:

Oh, and be patient with butyl tape if you use it in cold weather. It will take quite a few snuggings (that's a new word right there) of the fasteners to get the material all compressed and squeezed out. Don't rush it. You can always put the final snugging (there it is again!) on them in the spring.