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Peter Walker
United Kingdom
58 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Dec 2015 : 19:26:12
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My Norman 22 was built in 1969, I have had her 5 years now and as I have poked around I uncovered more and more rotten wood. Part of the problem lay in the windows, so 2 years ago I took them all out and renewed the seals and rebuilt the alloy frames and replaced a lot of the perspex with laminated glass. Then in the last year I began rebuilding the interior, this Winter's project is the main bulkhead.
This first picture taken a few weeks ago shows the reason why:
On both sides, the part of the main bulkhead under the side decks (normally hidden by furniture) had completely rotted away, in fact it had evidently been replaced several times in the life of the boat. I thought at first that this was down to leaks from the windows, but no, not as such.
This next shot shows the water actually dripping on the remains of the glassfibre tabing that once held the bulkhead:
The water was coming out at this point!
This shot gives a general impression once I removed the door and bulkhead:
And this view of the Port side begins to show the design flaw that caused the problem:
The interior moulding for the cabin is not joined to the roof at the back. It is joined under the side deck where it had to be but at the aft end there is no fibreglass tabbing over the join. In fact the wooden bulkhead bridged the gap. Below the side deck level, the bulkhead was fixed by being tabbed in on both sides (fore and aft), above the side deck the plywood was tabbed in on the aft side for about 18 inches to the top of the coaming. Across the top of the coachroof there was no fibreglass just a line of self tapping screws.
This view shows the point on the starboard side where the fibreglass tabbing which joined the cabin liner to the coachroof comes to an end under the side deck:
Because the tabbing comes to an end at this point, right in contact with the plywood of the main bulkhead, then any moisture which gets trapped between the 2 layers of the roof will find the lowest point to emerge - right there in the wood! Net result rot!
The next step in my plan therefore is to completely glass over this junction between cabin liner and coachroof, from port side deck to starboard. Only then when I have checked that it is watertight will I start rebuilding.
Has anybody else seen the same in their boats?
If this thread is of interest to others then I will try and post some more W.I.P. pictures as I replace the bulkhead this season.
Norman 22 on the river Avon, Warwickshire |
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stratford4528
United Kingdom
414 Posts |
Posted - 19 Dec 2015 : 23:19:35
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| I completely rebuilt my 32. All of the bottoms of the bulkheads were totally rotten |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 20 Dec 2015 : 06:53:23
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Water shouldn't be getting in between the cabin liner moulding which is cosmetic and the outer cabin moulding which is not. You need to look elsewhere for the cause of the water ingress.Glassing in that joint will simply push the problem elsewhere.
The usual culprits for water ingress through the topsides are:
Around the windows - water gets in at the openings where the outer and inner are cut out for the windows - the windows themselves should provide the seal at this point.
At any topsides fixings - pulpit rail, roof grab-rails (very common leak points) deck fittings - cleats, bollard, fairleads, search lights and nav lights,
Coachroof or windscreen fixings.
Poor overlap on hood and sidescreens allowing water to be driven in.
At low level - failure to keep the bilges clear of water, Normans like many other small craft have no watertight bulkheads below accomodation level and the bulkheads carry on down to the hull, you need to constantly attend to keeping the bilges dry.
Main bulkheads stiffen the hull and are glass-taped in up to side decks on both sides of the bulkhead, ditto across hull, but above side decks are only taped one side, cockpit side if at all, and bolted to the coach roof overlap.
Finally living the dream!
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Edited by - cliveshep on 20 Dec 2015 06:55:14 |
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Peter Walker
United Kingdom
58 Posts |
Posted - 20 Dec 2015 : 14:25:51
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Clive
I realise that the root of the problem lies elsewhere!
The majority of the windows have been done, I sealed the gap between coach roof and cabin with epoxy paste. I have the old style grab rails with the upstands that prevent water collecting there, I also used plenty of Sikaflex. My top suspects now are the fixings for the windshield then finally the 2 curved quarterlight windows that I have not yet serviced.
Anyway I would rather employ a belt and braces over this one. If I do not spot a new leak in the future I don't want a repeat leak to rot my new woodwork.
Norman 22 on the river Avon, Warwickshire |
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The Main Bulkhead rotted - you can see why !
