I have discovered after my recent purchase of Nice Pear that the bulkhead design has a flaw that WILL result in wood rot within the bulkhead. I have discovered that if I had sailed the boat once, the rig would have come down. Thank God I discovered this. Rod Johnstones' attempt to improve the bulkhead design from the J-24 is flawed because it traps the wood core between two fiberglass liners. If moisture gets into the wood, which is a matter of when, not if, rot will occur. I have hired a surveyor to have a look this Saturday to determine the proper method of repair. I STRONGLY suggest that a technical commitee should be formed to review this bulkhead problem, and determine a repair / retrofit that would be allowed under class rules, and that would possibly bypass the wooden bulkheads that we currently have. Frames have been used on racing boats that tie the shroud chainplates to the keel and hull without relying on a solid wooden bulkhead. I will be discussing these options on Saturday. Any strong structral solution that may or are may not be class legal, but provide safety to sail the boat safely again will be considered by us.
