Bulkhead Deck Separation

[Rich]

I'm getting a separation between the forward bulkhead in my head and the deck. There is about an 1/8 inch gap in the caulk line at the top where the deck and bulkhead have separated. I've inspected it while under sail on a port tack (the head is on the port side)and you can see the deck is flexing a bit and pulling away. This seems like an odd place to get such a heavy load since it's several feet aft of the standing rigging and substantially inboard of the chainplates and standing rigging. Is this normal or is it something I should worry about? Has anyone with a 376 or similar layout and rig noticed this same thing?

 

[Philip Brownell-e-mail atte01t@fuse.net]

boat structure problem

Rich, why not contact the Hunter factory in Alachua,Fla.Tel#904-462-3077.Last week, I visited this factory for the second time while on family visits to the southern Fla area. I had several structual questions on the H-38, that I may purchase.I spoke to Reid Graeber-International sales person.He is a sailor and knows the Hunter system.Kindly share any new structure info that Hunter might give you.I sailed the old wood structure type sailboats on Buzzards Bay-Cape Cod, Mass., and still have concerns that fiberglass construction may not hold up in the Fla Keys ocean areas.

 

[Al]

This shouldn't happen!!

I suggest contact Hunter ,since this is - in my opinion- a major problem and should be dealt with profesionally . I never read about similar occurances on this site.

 

[Rich]

Deck/Bulkhead update

I have contacted the factory and here is what they told me I need to do. Tie down the traveller and use it to seperate the deck from the bulkhead. Remove the old caulk and inject epoxy into the space. Release the tension on the traveller and allow the epoxy to cure. This actually sounds pretty simple. I just wasn't sure how the bulkhead should be bonded to the deck. This makes perfect sense. I assume that the original expoxy just didn't bond properly.