I have found that the bottom and the lower right side of my Starboard bulkhead is rotten (rotten like, I can put my fingers thru the bottom, so there is little or now vertical support. It is obviously caused by a leaking chainplate, but for some reason the bulkhead area where the chain plate attaches seems ok. My question is: Can I just replace and repair the lower damaged bulkhead area (like patching in a new lower section) or do I need to replace the whole bulkhead? The boat is currently out of the water with the mast up. I know that something has to be done about the source of the leak deckside. I am not looking for perfect boat by anymeans, but I don't want my rigging to come down this season. Thanks Jim
Hunter 22 1981 Bulkhead bottom rotten
- Thread starter Jim W23131
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Patch it
Mine is leaking the same place with the same symptom. I'm going to pull the bulkhead, cut the rotted section out, install a new section with dowels and expoxy then reinstall it. While it's out i'll pull and rebed the chainplate. Since the rot is below the cushion, I am not so concerned about the appearance. Of course upon reading about other people's experience with this, it appears the starboard bulkhead needs to be cut to be removed. So, maybe I am wrong? Tim
Mine is leaking the same place with the same symptom. I'm going to pull the bulkhead, cut the rotted section out, install a new section with dowels and expoxy then reinstall it. While it's out i'll pull and rebed the chainplate. Since the rot is below the cushion, I am not so concerned about the appearance. Of course upon reading about other people's experience with this, it appears the starboard bulkhead needs to be cut to be removed. So, maybe I am wrong? Tim
Better to just replace it
If you're going to pull the bulkhead it would make sense and most likely be better to replace the entire bulkhead. The effort to remove it easily justifies replacement.
If you're going to pull the bulkhead it would make sense and most likely be better to replace the entire bulkhead. The effort to remove it easily justifies replacement.
More detail on Dowel /fiberglass patch, please
what do you mean by dowel and fiberglass patch? It seems that if your are going to remove the bulkhead, why not replace it? On the otherhand, if you patch it, you could do it in place without removing bulkhead. Admittedly it is kind of a half A-- approach, but will the boat be structually improved ? Jim
what do you mean by dowel and fiberglass patch? It seems that if your are going to remove the bulkhead, why not replace it? On the otherhand, if you patch it, you could do it in place without removing bulkhead. Admittedly it is kind of a half A-- approach, but will the boat be structually improved ? Jim
Rotted Bulkhead
Jim, I had EXACTLY the same thing with the H22 I purchased in January. the upper section where the chain plate is was OK. I simply used a piece of 1/4 inch finished Birch (wish I had used Oak)plywood and sistered it on to the existing up about half way. Then I used a piece of rabbeted trim to hide the transition to the new piece. No problem. Just a question of some carpentry. Pic attached!
Jim, I had EXACTLY the same thing with the H22 I purchased in January. the upper section where the chain plate is was OK. I simply used a piece of 1/4 inch finished Birch (wish I had used Oak)plywood and sistered it on to the existing up about half way. Then I used a piece of rabbeted trim to hide the transition to the new piece. No problem. Just a question of some carpentry. Pic attached!
Nice looking job.
Did when you say sister; did you remove the rotten wood? if not, Did you sister on both sides? Did you fix the leaking chainplate, was it difficult? Thanks
Did when you say sister; did you remove the rotten wood? if not, Did you sister on both sides? Did you fix the leaking chainplate, was it difficult? Thanks
rotted wood
Jim, Sistering is just a carpenter meaning to add a piece to the existing. No, I did not remove it. I did nothing to the other side, which was necessary because of the porta potti. Eventually I will stain the bulkhead on the V-berth side to match, but really not important to me now, since it will probably never be used.
Jim, Sistering is just a carpenter meaning to add a piece to the existing. No, I did not remove it. I did nothing to the other side, which was necessary because of the porta potti. Eventually I will stain the bulkhead on the V-berth side to match, but really not important to me now, since it will probably never be used.
rotted bulkhead
I just got back from the boat again and based on input from here this is what I am thinking of doing. Please comment The bulkhead where the chainplate attaches with the 5 bolts is a little soft and not a good as I originally thought. My plan would be to sister a complete starboard bulkhead to the old one. Remove the five s/s bolts first Lay the new sister bulkhead against the front cabin side of the bulkhead with small firring strips to make up for the thicknes of the S/S chainplate, so the sister is flat. Drill the five holes thru the sister bulkhead from the V berth side. Install new bolts (longer) with fender washers Bolt thru sistered bulkhead at several places Seal chainplate leak on deck. I can see where it was leaking But I am not sure if I can remove the 5 chainplate bolts when the mast is up? I could use the halyard to take some tension off starboard shrouds. Comments, or is this crazy?
I just got back from the boat again and based on input from here this is what I am thinking of doing. Please comment The bulkhead where the chainplate attaches with the 5 bolts is a little soft and not a good as I originally thought. My plan would be to sister a complete starboard bulkhead to the old one. Remove the five s/s bolts first Lay the new sister bulkhead against the front cabin side of the bulkhead with small firring strips to make up for the thicknes of the S/S chainplate, so the sister is flat. Drill the five holes thru the sister bulkhead from the V berth side. Install new bolts (longer) with fender washers Bolt thru sistered bulkhead at several places Seal chainplate leak on deck. I can see where it was leaking But I am not sure if I can remove the 5 chainplate bolts when the mast is up? I could use the halyard to take some tension off starboard shrouds. Comments, or is this crazy?
New Bulkhead
Jim, Sorry, but I cannot give you any advice on what you should do here. My situation was much simpler because the upper part of the bulkhead was OK and damage was down at the seat and deck level. Good luck to you!
Jim, Sorry, but I cannot give you any advice on what you should do here. My situation was much simpler because the upper part of the bulkhead was OK and damage was down at the seat and deck level. Good luck to you!
bond the 2 together
If you do laminate another piece to the bulkhead, I would suggest bonding them together with some 5200 as well.
If you do laminate another piece to the bulkhead, I would suggest bonding them together with some 5200 as well.
Rotted Bulkhead
Jim, if you have rot at the top, where the chianplate bolts, you must replace that bulkhead. That bulkhead supports your chainplate. It does not appear to be that big a job to remove it as long as you cut it in half at the table top height. This bulkhead adds support to the shape of the hull and to the rig. If you have rot at the top I'd be afriad of de-masting in a puff.
Jim, if you have rot at the top, where the chianplate bolts, you must replace that bulkhead. That bulkhead supports your chainplate. It does not appear to be that big a job to remove it as long as you cut it in half at the table top height. This bulkhead adds support to the shape of the hull and to the rig. If you have rot at the top I'd be afriad of de-masting in a puff.
Pull it
I'm assuming your mast is down? It will have to be before you mess with the chain plate bolts. The monkeying around you are talking about might actually take you more time than just pulling the rotten bulkhead and replacing it. You don't dare mess with it's structural integrity anyhow. Use the old one as a pattern. Trace it and use it to position the bolt holes. Then carefully follow the outline with a jig saw. It might take you a couple of hours total. You can make the new bulkhead out of about anything but teak plywood would match the rest of your woodwork, if you can find it. Teak plywood is spendy though. You might be able to get mahogany plywood and stain it to look almost exactly like teak. The grain pattern is almost identical. Be sure and seal the chain plate on the top side so your new bulkhead doesn't suffer the same fate as the last one!
I'm assuming your mast is down? It will have to be before you mess with the chain plate bolts. The monkeying around you are talking about might actually take you more time than just pulling the rotten bulkhead and replacing it. You don't dare mess with it's structural integrity anyhow. Use the old one as a pattern. Trace it and use it to position the bolt holes. Then carefully follow the outline with a jig saw. It might take you a couple of hours total. You can make the new bulkhead out of about anything but teak plywood would match the rest of your woodwork, if you can find it. Teak plywood is spendy though. You might be able to get mahogany plywood and stain it to look almost exactly like teak. The grain pattern is almost identical. Be sure and seal the chain plate on the top side so your new bulkhead doesn't suffer the same fate as the last one!
Thanks for all the input
I am going to take the mast down and in install new Bulkhead on both sides, and re-bed the chain plates along with other deck fittings. Purchased the marine wood this morning and plan to do it later this week. I called Hunter and they(he) suggested that I make a vertical cut on the starboard bulkhead to facilitate the installation. I think I will see if I can get it in without cutting and then decide if and where to cut it. Thanks again. Jim While the mast is down, I can check wiring, etc and add a wind indicator that.
I am going to take the mast down and in install new Bulkhead on both sides, and re-bed the chain plates along with other deck fittings. Purchased the marine wood this morning and plan to do it later this week. I called Hunter and they(he) suggested that I make a vertical cut on the starboard bulkhead to facilitate the installation. I think I will see if I can get it in without cutting and then decide if and where to cut it. Thanks again. Jim While the mast is down, I can check wiring, etc and add a wind indicator that.
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