DaveH6
Installing longitudinal bulkheads in pilothouse area
The 4' level kept the tops of longitudinal bulkheads in same plane.
Yes, I realize that cabinets will cover much of the longitudinal bulkheads thus irregularities in bulkhead elevations may be concealed but why not do it right and why take a chance. Plus your knees will enjoy the additional time planted between bulkheads as you strive for perfection . Recommend buying knee pads.
I have a theory. It takes a tad longer to build a light weight boat since many clever and time consuming structures must be installed to achieve strength with little weight penalty. If true, no question that the additional time is more than justified by decades of reduced fuel usage .
A couple of years ago Soundings Magazine had an article about what must change in planing boat design in response to fuel costs. Issues such as beam width, weight and hull shape were discussed. My reaction to the article was that Tom Lathrop, with his Bluejacket design, is already onboard with many of these thoughts.
On the longitudinal bulkheads near the topside/bottom panel seams, I believe that the epoxy and fiberglass tape weighed more than the wood bulkhead. These 6mm thick bulkheads provide substantial stiffness to the bottom yet add little weight to the hull. In beam technology, the beam's height is the essential dimension with thickness a distant second.
Some of these bulkheads are longer than 8' thus I scarfed on a piece of plywood to increase the length and then fitted the bulkhead in the normal manner.
* Edit: The lack of spring in the lightweight 1/4" thick pilot house sole is another weight savings from the concept of longitudinal bulkheads. These bulkheads and bottom/cockpit sole skins are another example of a torsion box.
Installing longitudinal bulkheads in pilothouse area
The 4' level kept the tops of longitudinal bulkheads in same plane.
Yes, I realize that cabinets will cover much of the longitudinal bulkheads thus irregularities in bulkhead elevations may be concealed but why not do it right and why take a chance. Plus your knees will enjoy the additional time planted between bulkheads as you strive for perfection . Recommend buying knee pads.
I have a theory. It takes a tad longer to build a light weight boat since many clever and time consuming structures must be installed to achieve strength with little weight penalty. If true, no question that the additional time is more than justified by decades of reduced fuel usage .
A couple of years ago Soundings Magazine had an article about what must change in planing boat design in response to fuel costs. Issues such as beam width, weight and hull shape were discussed. My reaction to the article was that Tom Lathrop, with his Bluejacket design, is already onboard with many of these thoughts.
On the longitudinal bulkheads near the topside/bottom panel seams, I believe that the epoxy and fiberglass tape weighed more than the wood bulkhead. These 6mm thick bulkheads provide substantial stiffness to the bottom yet add little weight to the hull. In beam technology, the beam's height is the essential dimension with thickness a distant second.
Some of these bulkheads are longer than 8' thus I scarfed on a piece of plywood to increase the length and then fitted the bulkhead in the normal manner.
* Edit: The lack of spring in the lightweight 1/4" thick pilot house sole is another weight savings from the concept of longitudinal bulkheads. These bulkheads and bottom/cockpit sole skins are another example of a torsion box.