I recently purchased hull #62. She has clear evidence of bulkhead rot on the port side; water stains where the chainplate leaked at one time (The other J30 here in Carlyle ILL has the same water stains. I suppose they are common.) and you can actually feel dry, rotten core by feeling behind the seat where the water line runs foreward to the sink. The previous owner said the water stains were there when he bought her 10 years ago. He has kept the chainplates sealed as long as he's owned her and does not know of leaks during that time (as I said the rot is bone dry). Therefore, I think what rot has been there a long time. Further, the previous owner raced her very hard apparently with a somewhat rotten main bulkhead all along.
Now for the questions:
1. Does anyone know of a J30 loosing a chainplate due to bulkhead rot?
2. The bulkhead seems to have a substantial fiberglass component. What is this thing made of?
3. While I don't like the idea of rot in my main bulkhead (I am a previous owner of a J24 where bulkhead rot is a common cause of lost masts) is this a major issue for a J30?
