Hi all.I've removed the above with a view to making up a new bulkhead as the old one is badly damaged by water ingress over many years.Given how far forward and how light (6mm?) the "bulkhead" is, can I conclude that it has no structural purpose & is there merely to stop the anchor chain spilling aft into the fore cabin?So can I still go sailing while making up a copy?Thanks,JohnPS best wishes for the new solar year to all..
OK to sail with chain locker bulkhead removed?
- Thread starter Vega1447
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If you have water on deck in rough seas you may get some leakage through the hawse hole and thus into the v berth. Howard
Agree with that, thanks.
Just looking for confirmation that the chain locker bulkhead has no structural function?
John
Just looking for confirmation that the chain locker bulkhead has no structural function?
John
I'm sure it doesn't . HB erstwhile "Shiva", since joined the "I could do with a bit more headroom" club, i.e. (Mercator 30)
It is structural. It inhibits flex in the bow. Consider that the strongest form is a triangle. Basically that is the forward bulkheads shape. When I bought Lyric the nuts on the bolts that hold the bulkhead to the fiberglass flange had worked loose. There was a lot of movement of the bulkhead. I'm thinking the previous owner had sailed her hard and San Francisco bay has some nasty chop at times. You can really get pounded on it. Anyway the hull had developed some nasty stress cracks where the bulkhead attaches. A dremel tool and WEST system epoxy with cabosil fixed them. Locknuts have replaced the original nuts and no further damage has been noted. It's probably okay to sail without it but I wouldn't take her out into anything heavy. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. Walt To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.comFrom: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.comDate: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 09:13:07 -0800Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] OK to sail with chain locker bulkhead removed?
I'm sure it doesn't . HB erstwhile "Shiva", since joined the "I could do with a bit more headroom" club, i.e. (Mercator 30)
I'm sure it doesn't . HB erstwhile "Shiva", since joined the "I could do with a bit more headroom" club, i.e. (Mercator 30)
Have you considered using the fresh water deck fitting as the access point for the anchor rode. It would be a little inconvenient to un do the shackle when disconnecting the anchor bit it would be water proof/bomb proof and requires little alteration.
Thanks for that idea.
Plan A is to refit the new bulkhead in the next week or two.
I also need to improve the seals round the fresh water deck fitting - easier done before bulkhead is replaced.
I discovered that one of the bolts securing the above fitting is "floating", ie not secured from below.. Just pushed though an overlarge hole in the deck. Not sure if this sin against the shipwright's art was done by Albin Marin or by a previous owner..
This seems to have been the cause of most of the water ingress.
I pumped in some expanding PU foam as a temporary measure but will do the job properly before refitting the bulkhead.
Thanks to ask who replied and Happy New Year to all.
John V1447 Breakaway
Plan A is to refit the new bulkhead in the next week or two.
I also need to improve the seals round the fresh water deck fitting - easier done before bulkhead is replaced.
I discovered that one of the bolts securing the above fitting is "floating", ie not secured from below.. Just pushed though an overlarge hole in the deck. Not sure if this sin against the shipwright's art was done by Albin Marin or by a previous owner..
This seems to have been the cause of most of the water ingress.
I pumped in some expanding PU foam as a temporary measure but will do the job properly before refitting the bulkhead.
Thanks to ask who replied and Happy New Year to all.
John V1447 Breakaway