Steve Sherrer's advice about retrofitting bulkheads is pretty close to what I've done. The only difference I make is that I use a handy little $2.98 "tool" available from Staples, Office Depot, and most drafting/art supply places - a "draftsman's curve". It's not a curve at all, but a piece of malleable plastic which probably contains a flexible wire or something similar. It can be bent just the way Steve describes bending his wire, or whatever. I've had better luck with the draftsman's curve holding its shape. I'm in the camp of always making a full cardboard template before cutting out the foam. I think the bevel recommended by"paddlnc" is important also. WARNING WARNING WARNING RE: 3M 5200 - Protect anything you don't want to get permanently gummed up!!! Like your adjustable foot braces. I'm the dummy who was in a hurry one day while installing a bulkhead and got *just a little* 3M 5200 on one footbrace. I immediately cleaned it off, used every solvent I could find around the shop and in the garage, in hugely toxic quantities - but that footbrace still got so stuck that it might as well have been welded together. I never did get it freed up. I eventually sold that boat to a fellow who is much handier with metal than I am, (after telling him about my stupidity first and having him paddle the boat). He eventually did get the footbrace unstuck. Now when I install a foam front bulkhead, IF I need to use 5200, I tape plastic over the footbraces. No mas. Never again. Last thing - If you're installing a 3" minicell foam FRONT bulkhead, one very nice way to fit it, once you've got it very close to proper size and shape, is to sit in the boat and push it in place with your feet. As far as I know, rear bulkheads just have to be grunted in place with your hands and arms. Bill Hansen Ithaca NY <<with a heathy dose of 3M 5200 sealant the job is done. Remember the latex gloves with the 5200 as it is quite messy.>> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Feb 20 2001 - 17:06:35 PST
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