Mushy Bulkheads
Terry: I'm repeating myself again here, and I apologize. This is a very common problem, due to failure at the chainplate/deck interface., allowing water to migrate into the bolt holes on the bulkhead. Proper bedding would have prevented this, but your looking for a fix now. A question first though. Is there enough "good wood" left at the bulkhead? IOW, how much rot is there? Could you bolt and glue 2 patches on either side of the bulkhead, to rebolt the chainplate too? Full and partial bulkheads are very important in providing stiffness in the hull, and should not be removed. To do so will invite oilcanning at the flimsiest part of the hull, causing further stresses. Dig out all punk wood and apply "git-rot" or "creeping crack and crevice" preventer to stabilize the rotting area. The patch can be similar wood, or SS plates and should be 3 times the diameter of the punk wood and at least the thickness of the original bulkhead or thicker, although for cosmetic reasons your friend may want to make the patch the same width and shape of the bulkhead. I would also advise your friend to check for laminate rot between the deck skins at the plates. Water has probably wicked there too. Good luck. Don
