Discussions on everything about the J/30 Sailboat!
With your one stop source
The J/30 Marketplace
Join or Renew
Class Membership
Search

March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Today's Birthdays
No Birthdays
Newest Members
zharv, Corey, Suzie, SSA-BlueJ, Liam Kersch
1017 Registered Users
Crew Manager Boat Websites

Boat Website subscriptions with
Crew Scheduling & Notifications

Created by former J/30 Rhapsody owner

J/30 Social Network
Popular Topics(Views)
976,432 Dacron Main
162,696 Ananda's Refit
Forum Statistics
Forums28
Topics3,983
Posts19,061
Members1,018
Most Online238
Feb 9th, 2024
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Replacing the aft bulkhead #17632
01/24/18 09:47 PM
01/24/18 09:47 PM
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 11
Seattle, WA
N
NightOwl Offline OP
Member
NightOwl  Offline OP
Member
N
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 11
Seattle, WA
Hello everybody.

Last year I picked up Vampire (Hull #18), formerly owned by Don Millie in Victoria, BC. I have done a fair amount of work on her, and have a seemingly endless amount left to go. I love the boat so far and have enjoyed the time spent on her.

I noticed my aft bulkhead (the arch under the bridge deck/companionway entrance, over the engine, which supports the steps). I was browsing through some old threads and found this thread. I believe my bulkhead is also rotting out and I will replace it this spring.

Can anybody recommend a material type to use for this bulkhead? I will most likely use a Marine grade plywood, and reuse the same veneer if possible. But should I get the uber-expensive custom stuff (Aquatek, Hydrotek)? Or can I get the marine-grade stuff from the local lumber yard?

I plan to seal the surfaces and edges of the finished plywood before reinstalling it. I may also apply a layer of glass, although that might be overkill.

I will also investigate cracking in the bridge deck, although that may be due to the aft bulkhead failing. Later this spring I plan to replace the nonskid deck (to keep the kids from slipping off the boat), so if I need to take care of deck repairs in this area it will be a good time to fix everything.

Edit: This is what the bulkhead looks like. Mine is identical to the pics from post I listed

[Linked Image]

Last edited by NightOwl; 01/25/18 02:26 PM.
West Marine Affiliate Program

The J/30 Class Association has partnered with West Marine and is now a member of the West Marine affiliate program. You can support the J/30 Class when you make your West Marine purchases online. The J/30 Class Association receives a percentage of sales from your purchases when you click through from our website. Click the logo above and you will be directed to the West Marine website with a cookie that identifies you as a J/30 affiliate. You can also use any discounts that you may be authorized.
Re: Replacing the aft bulkhead [Re: NightOwl] #17633
01/24/18 11:20 PM
01/24/18 11:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 218
Scappoose, OR
C
Coastie Offline
Senior Member
Coastie  Offline
Senior Member
C
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 218
Scappoose, OR
The water intrusion probably started above the actual bulkhead. So make sure that you seal the new work from the problems that are above where you are working. My personal opinion is that the marine plywood would be adequate, if it is well sealed with epoxy resin. I have removed a lot of the skin below the waterline and would not even bother with considering to reuse it. Once it is separated from the core it often wants to take on a new shape that just doesn't fit back in the place it came from. That skin is also polyester resin and chopped strand mat, not particularly strong, so the best place for it is in your garbage can. It is also just simpler and faster to reglass any of these areas.

I also highly recommend using a high volume vacuum when you do the new glass work. This can even be a shop vac. Using the vacuum helps with fighting gravity and really helps consolidate the layup. With the high volume setup you can use blue painter tape to seal your plastic to the hull and a simple sink drain as the vacuum port. The low volume high vacuum pumps also work but require much more substantial sealing effort and expensive materials. Here is what this can look like Vacuum Port


Dave Graf
Re: Replacing the aft bulkhead [Re: NightOwl] #17720
02/21/18 11:46 AM
02/21/18 11:46 AM
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 146
Melbourne, FL, USA
Rob Van Name Offline
Senior Member
Rob Van Name  Offline
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 146
Melbourne, FL, USA
My son noticed that the port side of the engine compartment in the quarter berth is de-laminating. We think the water intrusion is from the cockpit locker pan. The edge of the pan has been sealed. I don't have that cockpit opening port luckily but I do have the anti-theft feature where I can't get the upper companionway board out if I stand on the bridge deck.....I wonder what my bulkhead looks like.

Re: Replacing the aft bulkhead [Re: NightOwl] #17724
02/25/18 05:25 PM
02/25/18 05:25 PM
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 218
Scappoose, OR
C
Coastie Offline
Senior Member
Coastie  Offline
Senior Member
C
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 218
Scappoose, OR
I took a closer look at my bulkhead and while it is dry now, it shows signs of having gotten wet and is stained. I don't see any problems in the cockpit pan itself, but there are a ton of holes around the cockpit that have been drilled and filled. Any one of them could be a culprit too. I also wonder if the source of the moisture is traveler track or if it is just rain getting through the companion way? This is not a fun area to work in. Deck work is going to happen down the road on my boat so I will just keep an eye on this area.


Dave Graf

Moderated by  David Erwin 

Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 48 guests, and 13 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Photos
2023 Clipper Cup - Conundrum USA32866
Windy Wednesday night
Hurricane Gulch San Pedro, CA
Truckin'
Endeavour (246) Sailing in Prince Edward Island
Recent Posts
Hull # 229 Falcon parts for sale
by Sunrise. 03/16/24 08:26 PM
Adjusting Throttle & Transmission Controls
by Rhapsody #348. 03/10/24 08:25 AM
Engine Cover Steps
by David Erwin. 03/10/24 01:35 AM
Cushions
by Corey. 02/25/24 10:02 PM
Sold: #2 Dacron Jib
by Brent. 02/17/24 05:12 PM
J/30 Survey
by David Erwin. 02/16/24 06:43 PM
looking for j30 center table
by wilybilds. 02/16/24 04:49 PM
1984 J/30 - Hull #488 Shamrock
by Bruce Irvin. 01/30/24 12:12 AM
Cabin Table Wanted
by B Davis. 01/20/24 11:03 PM
Fuel Fill O Ring
by watchoverya. 01/11/24 05:35 PM
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1.1