Bulkhead question????

[Jason4636]

I'm building a 56" mono, I have 2 bulkheads going in. One is 13" from the tip, and the second one is 13" behind the first one. I know I'm going to to epoxy in the sides and the bottom, and reinforce it with some CF cloth. But on the part that will contact the deck. I've heard it both ways, some to to epoxy the deck to the bulkhead while some say don't do it.

Whats best? Epoxy the deck down, or dont epoxt the deck down?

[srislash]

If it were me I would "solid" up the deck as much as possible.I don't see why a person would not.

[Jason4636]

I was thinking about epoxing the whole thing down. But could it be to rigid?

[iridebikes247]

I would epoxy it down. I installed a bulkhead yesterday in my boat. I made sure the bulkhead just fit and didn't require much pressure to push into place. Epoxied in the bottom and a little but was added to the top. If the bottom is really secure the whole thing flexes very little anyway. Plus if its epoxied into place you'll know for sure the load will be distributed evenly across the top of the hull, no chance for high points to over stress the hullin any one spot.

[Richie the shipwright]

Yep..I agree. Glass it all! The deck is an important part of the boats structure. The highest stresses on a monohulled vessel are actually along the edges of the deckline where the deck meets the hull. Glassing the deck to bulkheads helps spread these loads. As an example, if you take a shoebox with no lid then press in on each end of the box, the sides of the box will bend/break along the top edge first. Bulkheads tie all of the surfaces togeather making them work as one structure. Glassing bulkheads to the underside of the deck will make the hull MUCH stronger. A hull can never be too stiff. :-)

[Jason4636]

I'll be cutting them out tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get them installed also. I have alot of cuts to make tomorrow. I have a 30" x 40" sheet to curve up.