Hi All, I've been thinking of making some modifications to my cabin for the coming sailing season. One thing I'd like to do is to open up the interior by removing the wood panel between the front berth and the rest of the cabin. I know I have to retain the sturdy vertical brace (under the mast). But don't know if the panel serves a structural purpose. Thanks for any input!
- Status
If I were to
I'd mirror the lines of the port side. Having removed my lazerette bulkhead I perceive it provides vital structural integrity. It is glassed in along the hull but not to the deck. The mast post you know enough not to mess with. Good luck, and keep us posted.
I'd mirror the lines of the port side. Having removed my lazerette bulkhead I perceive it provides vital structural integrity. It is glassed in along the hull but not to the deck. The mast post you know enough not to mess with. Good luck, and keep us posted.
Hmm, that doesn't make me feel good
Sounds like I need to investigate this a bit more. I don't want to turn my hull into a wet noodle. Thanks.
Sounds like I need to investigate this a bit more. I don't want to turn my hull into a wet noodle. Thanks.
First of all, why would you take that bulk'ead out?
Though may I offer, successful accomplishments make me feel good, and sharing my meager success makes it all the better. A shortcoming of mine is that I don't ask advice as much as I should, or take it as prescribed. Perhaps that is a good thing, for I've have experience some here wouldn't approve of attempting from the start. From that comes what I can share, be it good or bad. I also refrain from offering advice without knowledge and/or experience. My advice will be derided by some, but undertaking such a project as this would broaden the experience of all '86 H23 owners. It will make for an interesting accomplishment. To expand on what I posted before; I would cut the lines of the starboard bulkhead to match the port, presuming Hunter engineers designed the port bulkhead to be strong enough to support the craft in or out of the water. Let me “disclaim”; I have no plans to do what you consider, only because I use that bulkhead to hang charts. If you have proven a better plan I may adopt it. What kind of website would this be without such experience? The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.--Arthur C. Clark
Though may I offer, successful accomplishments make me feel good, and sharing my meager success makes it all the better. A shortcoming of mine is that I don't ask advice as much as I should, or take it as prescribed. Perhaps that is a good thing, for I've have experience some here wouldn't approve of attempting from the start. From that comes what I can share, be it good or bad. I also refrain from offering advice without knowledge and/or experience. My advice will be derided by some, but undertaking such a project as this would broaden the experience of all '86 H23 owners. It will make for an interesting accomplishment. To expand on what I posted before; I would cut the lines of the starboard bulkhead to match the port, presuming Hunter engineers designed the port bulkhead to be strong enough to support the craft in or out of the water. Let me “disclaim”; I have no plans to do what you consider, only because I use that bulkhead to hang charts. If you have proven a better plan I may adopt it. What kind of website would this be without such experience? The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.--Arthur C. Clark
have you tryed calling?
I always call hunter before taking on hard projects or ones with possible bad outcomes. They usally have the answers and are very friendly. whats the worst they can say? I dont know sound interesting?? GO ahead call! Good luck -jeff
I always call hunter before taking on hard projects or ones with possible bad outcomes. They usally have the answers and are very friendly. whats the worst they can say? I dont know sound interesting?? GO ahead call! Good luck -jeff
Not me.
I have to believe that this bulkhead adds support to the top side as well as add helping to add overall stiffness to the boat. I would not remove it unless Hunter were to tell me that it has no structural use at all. Even then, who is left at hunter that would know this about the 23s made years ago. But we would all be interested in what happens. Good Night Moon Hunter 23 Ventura, CA.
I have to believe that this bulkhead adds support to the top side as well as add helping to add overall stiffness to the boat. I would not remove it unless Hunter were to tell me that it has no structural use at all. Even then, who is left at hunter that would know this about the 23s made years ago. But we would all be interested in what happens. Good Night Moon Hunter 23 Ventura, CA.
One Other Option
One other option you might consider would be to cut out a window and use either a curtain or a shutter for privacy when needed. There is someone on this board that has done this. The advantage is that the window, if small enough, would still allow much of the bulkhead to remain. /Chuck S/V Windsongs '85 H23
One other option you might consider would be to cut out a window and use either a curtain or a shutter for privacy when needed. There is someone on this board that has done this. The advantage is that the window, if small enough, would still allow much of the bulkhead to remain. /Chuck S/V Windsongs '85 H23
Structural stiffnes
I would guess that while the bulkhead does not directly support the mast and deck, it adds stiffnes to the "post" under the mast to prevent deflection which stabilizes the entire stricture. Unless you are planning to replace this lateral stiffnes, I would recommend against the bulkhead removal.
I would guess that while the bulkhead does not directly support the mast and deck, it adds stiffnes to the "post" under the mast to prevent deflection which stabilizes the entire stricture. Unless you are planning to replace this lateral stiffnes, I would recommend against the bulkhead removal.
Structural Stiffness
I'd agree with Bill, the previous poster. Basically the mast support should not be weakened by a reasonable opening in the bulkhead. I'd be more concerned about forces from non-typical directions such as when lifting the boat in a travel lift or twisting of the hull in serrious waves. When you cut out an opening as seen in the picture; if any weak points are created they will be at the small radii at the corners of the opening. If you wanted to empirically 'put back' some of the strength of the original bulkhead while keeping an opening, I'd suggest adding/ gluing another layer of marine plywood on the 'V' berth side with a grain direction perpendicular to the dominant grain of the plywood that was left (asssuming it is plywood and not MDO with a veneer). A smaller diameter circle would have been a better shape to cut so there are no short radii weak points. That said, perhaps there will never be serious loads put on a 23 anyway in the conditions you typically see.
I'd agree with Bill, the previous poster. Basically the mast support should not be weakened by a reasonable opening in the bulkhead. I'd be more concerned about forces from non-typical directions such as when lifting the boat in a travel lift or twisting of the hull in serrious waves. When you cut out an opening as seen in the picture; if any weak points are created they will be at the small radii at the corners of the opening. If you wanted to empirically 'put back' some of the strength of the original bulkhead while keeping an opening, I'd suggest adding/ gluing another layer of marine plywood on the 'V' berth side with a grain direction perpendicular to the dominant grain of the plywood that was left (asssuming it is plywood and not MDO with a veneer). A smaller diameter circle would have been a better shape to cut so there are no short radii weak points. That said, perhaps there will never be serious loads put on a 23 anyway in the conditions you typically see.
Interesting observations
but why would a designer provide lateral stiffening on a compression post from only the starboard side? My boat is currently dissected and the compression post, with associated bulkhead, is free from the overhead (deck). I was amazed by the lack of mass of this hollow post and it seems the bulkhead is only there for ascetic reasons and perhaps to hold the mast compression post in place for deck to hull assembly during manufacture. After seeing what Mike has done I retract my question as to why; I would like improved ventilation in my v-berth and am seriously considering this modification while my boat is in pieces. I still maintain that following the lines of the port side will provide adequate structural support and I won't remove any more than that, but agree with others that anything removed lessens structural integrity. Has anyone heard of this boat disintegrating from stress? Perhaps one day you will; time will tell, for I sail offshore and get beat up every so often. What I do to my boat isn't tried and true, but experimental, just as my sailing. The benefit of ignorance is the profit of discovering the unimagined. On the other hand, ignorance more often profits Darwin's theory. I'll share my success and warn of failures I survive.
but why would a designer provide lateral stiffening on a compression post from only the starboard side? My boat is currently dissected and the compression post, with associated bulkhead, is free from the overhead (deck). I was amazed by the lack of mass of this hollow post and it seems the bulkhead is only there for ascetic reasons and perhaps to hold the mast compression post in place for deck to hull assembly during manufacture. After seeing what Mike has done I retract my question as to why; I would like improved ventilation in my v-berth and am seriously considering this modification while my boat is in pieces. I still maintain that following the lines of the port side will provide adequate structural support and I won't remove any more than that, but agree with others that anything removed lessens structural integrity. Has anyone heard of this boat disintegrating from stress? Perhaps one day you will; time will tell, for I sail offshore and get beat up every so often. What I do to my boat isn't tried and true, but experimental, just as my sailing. The benefit of ignorance is the profit of discovering the unimagined. On the other hand, ignorance more often profits Darwin's theory. I'll share my success and warn of failures I survive.
- Status