Stuck Again

[Ken_StJohn]

Once again I thought I was ready to proceed only to find a less than adequate step explanation (at least to me!). Operations grind to a screeching halt and progress is halted!

Ready to attach the cabin bulkhead to the underside of the deck with "...short stringers". As I test fitted the bulkhead and the stringers it was obvious that their length might make a difference to the interior edge of the cockpit.

If I made them the same length as the bulkhead edge that supports the deck, they will stick out past the cockpit deck edge. I can trim them off but then I have an exposed end grain that looks, shall we say, yuckey.

I also think it might interfere with the seat construction as well but, I'm not far enough along to knowq for sure.

So, how short to cut them? The one end will be against the deck to side panel stringer but the other end will extend across the cockpit side of the bulkhead but, how far??

I can't seem to find how this corner where the deck edge curves and meets the cabin bulkhead gets finished. If I knew that I could figure out how long to make them. But, can't seem to find any closeup/detail photos.

Can anyone shed some light or better yet shed a picture???

[Andrew_Butchart]

Ken:

If you're talking about the stringers that join the aft cabin bulkhead to the deck - what I did was to make the the same length as the "wings" on the bulkhead pls a bit.

After assembly, I cut them off flush to the inside of the cabin cut-out figuring that the cabin trunk sides would be over top of them.

[Ken_StJohn]

Not sure I follow that - the top stringers go on the cockpit side of the cabin bulkhead if I read the plans correctly..so I'm not sure I follow your description of being covered by the cabin trunk sides....(?)

[Andrew_Butchart]

Ah - so that means I put them on the "wrong" side then - :oops:

It seems to have worked out OK though.

[Ken_StJohn]

I'm sure it's to keep the cabin bulkhead "clean" on the inside. Shouldn't affect anything mechanical.

I still want to put mine on the cockpit side though so, I'm still open to input from other Weekenders.......

[Dave R1]

I just sent you a PM

[Ken_StJohn]

Andrew:

You know, the more Dave and I discussed it, the more we thought it might make more sense to have the stringer on the other side anyway. I thought it felt right from a mechanical standpoint to have the inclining bulkhead resting against the stringer instead of hanging from it.

Discussing finishing off the cockpit created a tricky business curving the stringer on the cockpit side so it doesn't extend past the deck edge. By the time you leave room for the deck to side panel stringer and curve enough of the stringer away so you don't see it, it becomes rather small. I understand it's purpose is only to anchor the deck and not necessarily support it so, it may make more sense to put it inside like yours. It'll be hidden anyway behind the cabin stringer and finish molding like you said.

Anyway, that's the new plan. Now maybe I can get all the bulkheads and lazaret on tomorrow and start the fun stuff - like the steering!