Oday25 Bulkheads

[Napa Ed]

Herb Parsons or any other:How many sheets of plywood to replace 5 bulkheads? 2 port side, 2 starboard, 1 galley (under the companionway).I have all the pieces out and have been rearranging them. None of them seem to nest very well. I can't figure how to get it all out of 3 sheets.

 

[Buddy Richardson]

I didn't do it with 3 sheets, used 4. The galley bulkhead takes one by itself and the 2 main bulkheads where the chain plates attach won't fit on one sheet. The two forward bulkhead will fit on one sheet but you have to watch out for the grain on the same sides if you finish them. I didn't try to fit a forward bulkhead with main bulkhead as we didn't work on those at the same time, but I don't think they would fit on 1 sheet.

 

[Napa Ed]

Nesting Bulkheads

The best I could do with everything facing the right way,Sheet 1: two forward and the v-berth triangle from the same sheet. Sheet two: The port side main with two rectangular pieces that go under the countertop along the edge of the settees.Sheet three: The starboard main and the companionway if I loose a little corner from the companionway piece where the settee tabs to the hull. I'll need a little patch so items don't slip through into the space under the cockpit.Then I still need another sheet for hanging locker, vanity front, cabinet doors etc. I'm buying okume good two sides. Not sure what to color them with. I know I want to use a one part satin finish polyurethane to finish. Not interested in oil. I'll take the camera tomorrow while the interior is stripped.

 

[Herb Parsons]

You're More Frugal Than I

I didn't replace my galley bulkhead. I patched all the holes that were in it, then laminated it with Formica. Looks great, BTW.I was more concerned about appearance, so I used 3 sheets for the four bulkheads, and made sure the grain ran straight vertical.Actually, I used 4, because I cut one of them totall wrong, but I could have done it in three.I have 2 more sheets of the the plywood (plus a pretty 2 big scraps from the bulkhead cuttings, both the good and the bad) that I plan on using for the cabinetry. One of them is the same 1/2", and the other is 3/4 to be used for the galley countertop (that is also a step down into the cabin). I'll make that first, then as much out of the 1/2" as I can, and the use the leftover 3/4" as much as I can.So, basically, mine was 4 1/2" sheets and 1 3/4" sheet.

 

[Herb Parsons]

Coloring

I didn't color mine, I used Minwax varnish, but no stain. I've had several people ask me where got the "mahogany". It was luan. Okume should look great if you just varnish over it.BTW, I got carried away on mine, but it worked well. I did 10 coats, lightly sanding in between each.

 

[Buddy Richardson]

Coloring

For the stain I found that Minwax black walnut and Minwax red maple on multiple applications made a very nice almost teak-like color. The walnut gave some nice lines to the grain and the maple gave a red warmth. Which was much better than the "whore red" original fabric covering.Then the finish was Minwax satin, which I didn't quite have the stamina for 10 coats but did at least 4 or 5, with light sanding in between. It looked very nice. The satin is a wonderful finish.