3.16.2008

setting the bulkhead in place


I slathered plenty of filler on the hull, placed the foam strip down, slathered more goop on top of the foam strip then slid the bulkhead in its' place. A quick once over with a bondo spreader that has a 2 in radius edge on it helps create a nice smooth corner that can then be covered with 6 in. wide DBM1708 fiberglass tape.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Allen,

What is the reasoning behind placing a foam strip between the bulkhead and the hull?

I am building a F-32 and I don't recall seeing that advice in the plans or building manual. Maybe that is unique to the F-44?

- John

Unknown said...

John,

Ian F. shows on the f-41 and 44SC and He would be your best source for advice on this but as a mechanical engineer myself, it seemed like it may help distribute the loads from the bulkheads to the hull skins a little more uniformly, another local composite expert said that it should also reduce "print through" which I believe in this case he was reffering to being able to see the bulkhead indentations or discontinuities through the exterior of the hull.

On the other hand, I wouldn't think it would really make that much of a difference if your fillets are nice and beefy.

Allen S