strongest method of retabbing, bolting, etc... bulkheads ?

Courtney Thomas

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Jun 18, 2003, 5:39:30 PM6/18/03

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I want to strengthen my main bulkhead on a 40' fiberglass sailboat to
the maximum extent possible.

What are my options regarding technique, materials, and design ?

Thank you.

--
Courtney Thomas
S/V Mutiny
Lying Oriental, NC

DS King

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Jun 18, 2003, 6:15:05 PM6/18/03

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Courtney Thomas wrote:

> I want to strengthen my main bulkhead on a 40' fiberglass sailboat to
> the maximum extent possible.

Why, has it failed in some way?

>
>
> What are my options regarding technique, materials, and design ?

The best thing would be to go to your public library and look for books
on boat construction. Look for authors Vaitse, Nicholson, Gougeon IMHO.
Alternatively you could shop Amazon.com

Given a decent background with simple tools & workshop knowledge, there
isn't anything you shouldn't be able to do with regard to bulkhead
repair/reinforcement. One thing I feel worth mentiong is that BEFORE you
start any serious work on the bulkheads, which will determine your hull's
shape, make SURE that the hull is not distorted from the original design
shape. It would be very easy to build in a new, strong bulkhead with
magnificent tabbing, only to find that your boat now sails much better on
one tack than the other!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Courtney Thomas

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Jun 18, 2003, 8:52:33 PM6/18/03

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I have Gougeon Bros. book and have read in Casey and others, but am
concerned that retabbing only might be inadequate unless the entire
bulkhead is fully retabbed in an aggressive way, which looms large, if
only access itself were considered, not to mention other obstacles.

I've read about the Fast Passage 39 having the hull layup providing for
throughbolting of bulkheads, which suggests other possibilities, maybe.

I was hoping someone might have done/heard of something less laborious
than full retabbing, such as tabbing certain support structures which
might ease the burden by being more accessible, then throughbolting to
them, an example of one possibility.

Anyway, thank you for your concern.

Courtney

DS King wrote:

Rodney Myrvaagnes

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Jun 18, 2003, 9:27:50 PM6/18/03

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On Wed, 18 Jun 2003 21:39:30 GMT, Courtney Thomas <ccth...@flash.net>
wrote:

>I want to strengthen my main bulkhead on a 40' fiberglass sailboat to
>the maximum extent possible.

Why? Was it badly designed?

Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

"If Brecht had directed 'Waiting for Godot,' he would have hung a large sign at the back of the stage reading 'He's not going to come, you know. ' " -- Terry Eagleton

Courtney Thomas

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Jun 18, 2003, 10:14:23 PM6/18/03

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This is an older boat, in fact one of the first fiberglass boats, and
the main bulkhead needs at least retabbing.

Since I must go through this, I'd like to do the strongest job I
reasonably can and am attempting to make certain that.... that's what
I'm doing, before beginning.

Thank you for your interest,

Courtney

Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:

Synergy

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Jun 22, 2003, 8:21:58 PM6/22/03

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Tabbing is considered the best method (most practical) for securing a
bulkhead to the hull, but there are different materials that are available
which can greatly enhance the strength and effectiveness of the system.
Using a double-bias stitched fiberglass cloth (diagonal weave) as opposed to
the standard woven roving is superior in securing bulkheads because the
direction of the filaments facilitate distribution of a load to the hull,
and vice-versa. You may want to look into a book on boat strength.

Regards,

Louis
s/v Synergy
Westsail 32 #679
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