Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

I found my pictures of the forward bulkhead and mid-cabin structure. The bulkhead does stop at the main stringers, so I could take it out and replace it without concern about structural integrity. However, I would have to tear up a bit of the mid-cabin floor (so it is called, actually a storage area).

My only concern is if the forward bulkhead is getting moisture 'fed' to it from saturated foam in the sole of the mid cabin section. I should probably drill into the sole/foam area to inspect/test the foam for moisture. If it is good, then maybe just treat the bulkhead and be done with it.

if I keep the boat for a total of 10 years, it will be 2022 and the boat will be 26 years old. Probably will be at its 'residual' value for sale or trade.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Like the deep Vee ride my self. Noticed Formula's new 350BR, talk about some capacity for folks. Always liked the 370SS with twin 525's or even better the Lamar V10. I just can't justify that big a boat for what I do during the season.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Yea, I think I am maxed out on my mooring space at 33 feet. So, in the newer models, I'd be looking at a 310 SS or FX down the road. In the go-fast line of Formula there is a big jump from the 292 to the 353 . . . 6 feet with nothing in between. That is why I have an interest in a 336 as a project.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

I would just treat the discoloration with hydrogen peroxide (full strength). let it soak in and kill any mold, dry a bit, then rinse with EG and let dry. then glass over it.

I was just reading up a bit on wood rot and hydrogen peroxide. It seems that HP is actually part of the dry rot process. So, I am thinking that hydrogen peroxide may not be the best thing to use as it may lead to some degradation of the wood. :noidea:

looks like the rot that I am dealing with is commonly classified as "soft rot". . . One of the three major classifications of rot. ( Brown, soft, white ).. Reference documents indicate that hydrogen peroxide is an active part of the brown rot (aka dry rot) process.

 

[bigdirty]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

I'm just gona say, I bet you could get away with doing NOTHING at this point and likely still be better off, even after 10 years, than my bulkhead is doing :lol: (want a good laugh see my thread..) my personal opinion is if its not structural to the hull, dry it out best you can, maybe paint what you can get to and put it back together. It will still be better than it was, and by the time it becomes a huge issue we all may be dead and gone :laugh:

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

I'm just gonna say, I bet you could get away with doing NOTHING at this point and likely still be better off, even after 10 years, than my bulkhead is doing :lol: (want a good laugh see my thread..) my personal opinion is if its not structural to the hull, dry it out best you can, maybe paint what you can get to and put it back together. It will still be better than it was, and by the time it becomes a huge issue we all may be dead and gone :laugh:

Yea, I saw your latest set of posts and pictures . . . bummer. My hopes are to head off what you are now having to deal with. If I replace the 2 bulkheads and chemo the stringers at the rear joint, I think the boat will be good for another 15-20 years.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

I have been reading up a bit on the pressure treated marine plywood that is "Kiln-Dried After Treatment" (KDAT). Common product names of this wood are "Greenwood XL" and "Perma Panel" (Inland Plywood Co.). Chaparral advertises that they use the Greenwood XL in their boats and Formula advertises the Perma Panel.

It would be nice to get some of this wood for the replacement bulkheads, but it seems that it is hard to come by at a retail, small quantity level. I would only need 1 (one) 4' x 8' x 3/4" panel to do the bulkheads. I am wondering about options of either . . .

(A) drying out a panel of PT plywood (how long would that take if I kept it inside) ?

or

(B) Treating standard exterior grade plywood with Ethylene Glycol (EG) and letting it absorb into the wood & dry out ?

:noidea:

The biggest concern would be adhesion of the fiberglass tabbing and encapsulation.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

it would take about a month to dry out the pressure treated unless you add heat.

a couple of saw bucks a tarp and a small electric heater may be enough heat to dry it out in about 5-8 days.

why not just use the exterior grade and do a good job of encapsulating?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

it would take about a month to dry out the pressure treated unless you add heat.
a couple of saw bucks a tarp and a small electric heater may be enough heat to dry it out in about 5-8 days.
why not just use the exterior grade and do a good job of encapsulating?

Yea, I may just end up using regular ext grade plywood, as I think that drying out a sheet of PT may be hit or miss. The pieces that I put back in will be fully glassed all-around. I probably will glass the edges and faces first, then tab the bulkheads in to the rest of the structure.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Well, the weather is starting to warm up here in the New England states . . . but . . . I have been somewhat captive at the day job lately. so, no progress to report. Kind of like the progress report with no progress to report

Big project at work has been keeping me pre-occupied - new web site going live this week. We spent yesterday moving everything into place, all looked good initially, then we find that the process 'nuked' the licensing on a new piece of software, so now one of our key new features of the site does not work :facepalm:

The company we purchased the software from is in South Africa . . . no response from their tech support over the weekend. Monday morning should be a bit interesting.

Maybe I'll get to work on the boat by next weekend, and hopefully it will be warm (40's F would be good). I'd like to get the remainder of the foam out of the fuel bay and do some paint removal and prep work on the fuel tank. Still a couple of months away from being able to fiberglass.

 

[zool]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

I think we are only weeks away from decent weather, im just laying back on the boat glass til then too....no reason to risk weak lams when we are this close to spring...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Well, more of life's happenings needing to come ahead of boat work. First it was the big project at the day job (new web site went live yesterday), but now it is family matters.

My father (age 87) is needing more care than his current assisted living residence can provide. So, the Admiral and I have been out scouting nursing facilities that would be a good fit for him. He is still quite coherent, but has bouts of confusion and increasingly higher personal care needs. The assisted living facilitie's only solution to that has been to send him to the ER at the hospital. :facepalm:

So, we think we might be moving him into a new place this weekend. I broke the news to him yesterday . . . he seemed to be OK with it, as I spun it as not being his fault. Hopefully, things will go smoothly.

I have been feeling that I need a good weekend of boat tinkering to get my head back in order . . . So, maybe the following weekend

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Thoughts and prayers for a successful and stress free relocation...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Thoughts and prayers for a successful and stress free relocation...

Thanks, it seems like the nursing homes around us are pretty full, but the one we liked the best did have space available. I spent the morning calling around to get the paperwork in order. I also needed to hire a special nurse to be at the assisted living center for night time monitoring over the next 3 days until he moves into the new place.

Hopefully, things will go well

 

[alldodge]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Hope it all goes well, Ted
Been in your shoes not that long ago

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Well, my Dad is now in the nursing home . . .

The weekend started out a bit shakiy when on Friday, I took him for a tour. He was grumbling about it the whole time. Said he didn't like it. . . kept asking is this the best place. I constantly assured him that we had asked around and looked around, and it was the best place. Lots of people that are still fairly with it. Some, I wonder why they were there and not in an assisted living facility instead. :noidea:

Saturday was move-in day and things went a lot better. My plan was to give him Friday night to let it sink in, and that seemed to have been the right approach. He did throw a nutty over night, but had settled down by Sunday morning. The nursing and doctor staff have gone above and beyond to make his transition smooth. He is now using the resident doctor for most of his medical needs and the doctor has run a a full battery of tests and reviewed his medical history. So, I have been impressed so far.

the Admiral and I cleaned out his former apartment and brought his cat home to live with us . . . joining our 2 current cats . . now makes 3.

With that taken care of, I will probably spend this weekend working on the boat

My game plan, weather permitting, is to paint strip the fuel tank and remove the remaining foam from the fuel bay. Then get a closer look at the forward bulkhead that was showing a moisture pattern in the lower center section. . . no where near as bad as the rear bulkhead. Boats do take on moisture from the keel - up.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Good news on getting your dad settled into the 'right' place. The staff where my grandmother finished her days were exceptional as well, and made all the difference. Couldn't thank them enough when I went for a visit. Certainly takes special folks.

Best of luck w/ the boat work plans for the weekend.....

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Excellent news! Glad you found the right place for him...
As human nature would have it...there is always going to be a bit of a grumpy adjustment period, but if the folks in the home are kind and caring, the transition to contentment will be swift...
Best regards to Dad!
And may Nature afford you some nice weather for boat work...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Thanks guys, for your kind words about my Dad.

Here is an update on the boat. . .

I did some paint removal on the fuel tank today along with cleaning out the fuel bay. Then I did a bit of finish cutting on the rear bulkhead.

Here are a few pictures from the day . . .

I found a bit of septic smelling and looking water along the keel when I was removing the foam from the fuel bay. It was isolated, with no sign of how it got there. (Dark areas in the foam)



Here is the fuel bay all cleaned out



I took some moisture readings on the forward bulkhead . . . fairly high.



But OK a bit further up in the bulkhead . . .




The stringers were also in the 12-15% range, which I have found to be typical of encapsulated wood.

Here is the finish cutting on the rear bulkhead . . .



The wood in the center engine mount stringer looked OK, but some darkness in the outer layer of wood. I also found a crack in the lower portion indicating the moisture that has been absorbed



I may skin the fiberglass off of this area of the center stringer in order to get a look at the wood inside.

Anyway, tomorrow, I should be finished with the paint stripping of the fuel tank. I'll post some more pictures then.

I also took some time out of the day to measure the foam-filled compartments in order to get a more accurate estimate of how much foam is in the boat. Last year, I had estimated about 60 cubic feet . . . after measuring and calculating, I came up with 67 cubic feet. So, that is a bit more favorable.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Formula 330SS Bulkhead Replacement

Fuel Tank Paint Preparation Update:

I did some work on the fuel tank this weekend. Previously, I had applied paint remover to the tank and it did a pretty good job of loosening the paint. Then, I did some wet sanding to take off some of the more stubborn areas.

Here are a few pictures of the tank.

Top surface and the fittings . . .



Forward End of the tank . . .



Bottom side of the tank . . .


Also I made a video of the day . . . checking out the inside of the tank.

The inside surfaces of the tank, to the extent that I could see, looked very good . . . basically like new. I just need some warmer weather so that I can paint the tank. It might have to wait a month or so.