I sure thsi has not been a fun prioject for you. After Viewing the "resultst" shot, I took the time to "at least" hit every screw that attaches the bulkheads to the inner hull with a screw driver. I found EVERY screw at least 2-4 turns away from tight. A couple of screws simply gave up and spun. I'll be doing a much more indepth review over the next month. (It's too hot on the Bay right now to really enjoy sitting at the docks in Shadyside trying to make EVERYTHING right, so for now we tighten what we can swap to a thru bolt if possible and do a rot check to make sure we arent just fooling ourselves I guess.
Sitting here in this thought now has me thinking of a proper mid season check For this season, we just bought a new North NorDac 155% Furling Genoa. We've sailed it maybe 3-4 times this season due to too many scheduling issues and current Motor problems which shold be repaired by this weekend. Whic gave good time to get the screwdriver working. The mast was pulled this past winter and all rigging checked out OK .That nasty PVC conduit was pulled and trashed in favor of plumbing pipe insulation and 3 foot long wire ties placed a foot or so apart on the new wiring and radio coax (no more mast noise). We hung the wire bundle on a line that we can get to, if we remove an exit block. This takes the tension off the Wire connections at the top of the mast. Turnbuckles were loosen'd and reference tape was removed. When the mast went back up, it was set by the yard rigger to "his" standard, which included attaching the forward lowers to the Middle uppers chainplate. I moved them back to the forward position (all are using the retrofit kit BTW). So much for the warm and cozey that was given to us by Backyard Boats as being a Catalina Dealer for the past 30 years. (I digress) I have tensioned the rig to my liking (without a guage) and squared the rig to the deck with a tape measure run off the main halyard to the same point each side at the rail amidships. I'm pretty much plumed based on the numbers (don't know if one side ot the boat is higher or lower though ;-(. I then cranked the turnbuckles down in sequence equal amounts until I "felt" comfortable with the tension (former Soling sailor so I bet I tensioned them more than you'd think!) It takes a long time to do this process! Its all visual and feel and best of all, the boat seems to balance better than before. BUT I did all of that PRIOR to tightening the bulkheads. So lesson learned Get to calm water (best at port) Reference mark your turnbuckles and loosen all your shrouds Go below and pull and epoxy dip your bulkhead screws and replace to tight bit dont over spin them! if any simply spinning, figure out how to thru bolt with large washers to spreds the load out then while the rig is loose, plum the mast to the boat and tighten the rig backup If you have a guage make your tensions equal, but you can do a fair job by feel, but really if you can get a Shroud tension guage, set them to equal numbers each side. now someone else please share how to best check the bulkheads for rot! (maybe in words a non wood expert might understand) Again, Sorry for your mast loss but many will gain from your experience What is it worth to replace bulkheads vs replacing Bulkheads AND a mast? Tom C Kiona 1914 West River, Md. On 7/23/08, Richard Shaw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thanks for the heads up about what could happen when bulkheads rot. > Attached is a pic of one we just replaced. > Rick Shaw > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 12:31:48 PM > Subject: catalina27-talk: A quick reminder > > Listees > > Just a friendly reminder to check your bulkheads in way of the chainplates > for leaks and rot!! > > Peter Z > Snagglepuss > #2622 > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" > on AOL > Food<http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002> > . > ------------------------------ > The Famous, the Infamous, the Lame - in your browser. Get the TMZ Toolbar > Now <http://toolbar.aol.com/tmz/download.html?NCID=aolcmp00050000000014>! > >
