RE: [Paddlewise] Installing a new bulkhead

Fred is the bulkhead covered only with a thin layer of glass chopstring
cloth or just resin (topcoat). Most of the time the foam bulkheads are
just covered with a thin layer of topcoat. Once the hull has been flexed
the topcoat will crack and a leak has appeared. 

Polyester will adhere if the surface has been sanded and cleaned well
with acetone.

A fix to the problem is to glass two layers chopstring cloth over the
entire bulkhead and finish of with a layer of topcoat. (Just the edges
won't do.)

Groetjes,  Len

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Fred Brown [SMTP:jfbjr_at_mindspring.com]
> Sent:	18 June 1998 03:50
> To:	Product Information Department
> Cc:	PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] Installing a new bulkhead
> 
> Which brings up a question I've been meaning to post . . . .
> I have a polyester resin/fiberglass kayak with foam core bulkheads
> "glassed"
> over and "glassed" in.  The front bulkhead leaks.  I've read that
> polyester
> resin layups only adhere well if laying up on wet polyester resin.
> I'm
> guessing the hull had cured before the bulkhead was installed and a
> good
> adhesion/seal wasn't realized.  I supposing a fix involving polyester
> resin is
> not the answer.  So, do I tape and epoxy resin, just epoxy resin, or
> use the
> non-silcon sealant that will eventually leak?
> 
> Thanks,
> Fred
> 
> Product Information Department wrote:
> 
> > Hi fellow paddle fiends,
> > I know the general pros and cons of bulkheads were discussed awhile
> back:
> > foolishly I did not save the postings. I'm considering removing a
> existing
> > forward bulkhead in my fibreglass/Kevlar vinylester resin kayak, and
> > installing a new one further aft. The advantages I see are two-fold:
> more
> > usable cargo space, and reduced cockpit flooding in the event of a
> wet
> > exit. Neither of these benefits will materialise unless the new
> bulkhead is
> > as solid and watertight as the existing, factory-installed one is.
> > So suggestions welcomed on:
> >
> > 1. Materials for the bulkhead itself. The existing bulkhead is a
> moulded
> > plastic, and I would prefer a somewhat flexible material so that
> there some
> > "give" lest the bulkhead lever itself loose and/or act as a "stress
> riser"
> > that weakens the hull. I'm considering the flexible Minicell foam
> used in
> > some plastic boats, but wondering whether it gets gouged by loose
> cargo.
> >
> > 2. Suggestions on how to make a template for the bulkhead and
> getting the
> > tightest fit possible.
> >
> > 3. Appropriate glues/sealants to hold the bulkhead in place. For the
> same
> > reasons of flex discussed in part 1 above, I'm not keen on glassing
> it in.
> > I've used Sika-Flex sealant very successfully on smaller
> through-deck and
> > through-hull fittings. Any ideas or experience with this or other
> products?
> >
> > 4. Reputable, reasonable sources in the Vancouver, BC, area who
> might do
> > the whole thing for me?
> >
> > Breathlessly waiting being deluged by the fountain of knowledge that
> is
> > PaddleWise.
> >
> > Philip Torrens
> > "The opinions expressed in this posting are not necessarily those of
> my
> > employer, or indeed, of any sentient being."
> >
> > ****************************************
> > Mountain Equipment Co-op
> > 1655 West 3rd Avenue,
> > Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1
> > Tel: 640-732-1989
> > Fax: 604-731-6483
> > email: pid_at_mec.ca
> >
> > Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca
> > *****************************************
> >
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