1976 Bristol 34 How serious is a separating bulkhead?

[Lance Monotone]

I'm looking at an otherwise nice boat, but have some concerns about a gap between the bulkhead and the cabin roof near the head and v berth. The hanging locker and the head door no longer close true. Is this a serious structural issue, or can it be fixed easily?

[Manateeman]

Bristols are well built so please post some photos. Anything else looking out of line? Any survey info, repairs..?
Mark and crew

[Lance Monotone]

Originally Posted by Manateeman

Bristols are well built so please post some photos. Anything else looking out of line? Any survey info, repairs..?
Mark and crew

I didn't get any images of this problem but it was like the starboard side of the boat settled like a house. None of the forward cabinet doors closed straight. Is this a sign of a collision? I didn't see anything else that would indicate that but there was some water damage to the interior woodwork which the owners said they fixed.

[psk125]

Sailboatdata's drawing https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-34 shows two bulkheads separate the head area on this boat. One bulkhead is by the mast. This is probably a key structural piece, and there should not be any gaps between it and the overhead or hull. The second bulkhead closes off the head from the v-berth. This bulkhead would seem to serve more as a privacy screen than a structural component of the boat. You need to tell us...which bulkhead has the gaps?

[silkie]

Do Bristols have a liner? Are we talking about a gap at the edge of a liner?
When a structural bulkhead rips away from the coach roof, there would be an unmistakable mess, rather than a neat gap.

[boatman61]

If it's sitting in the yard you'll likely find everything goes back in place once in the water.
However as has been said, if it's the main bulkhead in the salon something is wrong.

[Rdl]

Is the mast deck stepped?, check the deck where the mast sits, look for any flatness or bow in the deck, I've seen this on my old Bristol 30.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Lance Monotone

I'm looking at an otherwise nice boat, but have some concerns about a gap between the bulkhead and the cabin roof near the head and v berth. The hanging locker and the head door no longer close true. Is this a serious structural issue, or can it be fixed easily?

You really need to look under the floor.
Looks like the bulkheads support the cabin top, in that area.
The mast looks to keel stepped, so that's probably not an issue.
The link provided by sailboat data shows a liner, and it's probably tabbed unto the bulkhead, which in turn is glassed to the hull.
These bulkheads support hull shape, as the masts standing rigging tends to want to pull the hull together squeezing it from each side.
If the bulk head is not sound, i.e., rot or, came loose from the hull the liner, and all will be left unsupported, and the walls ect. Will be pulled out of shape.
Look under the floor. Inside lockers, that attach to the bulk head.
Post pictures, and look for the edge of the bulkhead to see if any tabbing or glassworks has come loose.
It's kind of a common problem in boats where leaks have compromised the wood and the glass work has come off of it.
SV Cloud Duster

[LittleWing77]

Thread about a Nor'easter 33 with a similar problem which may be of interest:

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ay-248530.html

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Lance Monotone

I didn't get any images of this problem but it was like the starboard side of the boat settled like a house. None of the forward cabinet doors closed straight. Is this a sign of a collision? I didn't see anything else that would indicate that but there was some water damage to the interior woodwork which the owners said they fixed.

Is she on the hard or afloat? Poor blocking could be the problem.

[Lance Monotone]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

You really need to look under the floor.
Looks like the bulkheads support the cabin top, in that area.
The mast looks to keel stepped, so that's probably not an issue.
The link provided by sailboat data shows a liner, and it's probably tabbed unto the bulkhead, which in turn is glassed to the hull.
These bulkheads support hull shape, as the masts standing rigging tends to want to pull the hull together squeezing it from each side.
If the bulk head is not sound, i.e., rot or, came loose from the hull the liner, and all will be left unsupported, and the walls ect. Will be pulled out of shape.
Look under the floor. Inside lockers, that attach to the bulk head.
Post pictures, and look for the edge of the bulkhead to see if any tabbing or glassworks has come loose.
It's kind of a common problem in boats where leaks have compromised the wood and the glass work has come off of it.
SV Cloud Duster

I know these boats have a known problem with deck to hull joints and I'm wondering if that's what this is. The backing plates inside the cabinets were clean and didn't look as if they were regularly wet. The bilge was dry. The boat is floating. The mast is keel-stepped. I didn't notice that the glass had come loose but I didn't know what to look for. I need to go back and take some better pictures after doing this research.

I thought I didn't get any good pictures of the bulkhead problem but if you zoom in you can sort of see what I'm talking about in this picture:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dao...ew?usp=sharing

There is also a lot of water damage to the cabinets, which can be seen here, but all the damage looked years old:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DCp...ew?usp=sharing

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Lance Monotone

I know these boats have a known problem with deck to hull joints and I'm wondering if that's what this is. The backing plates inside the cabinets were clean and didn't look as if they were regularly wet. The bilge was dry. The boat is floating. The mast is keel-stepped. I didn't notice that the glass had come loose but I didn't know what to look for. I need to go back and take some better pictures after doing this research.

I thought I didn't get any good pictures of the bulkhead problem but if you zoom in you can sort of see what I'm talking about in this picture:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dao...ew?usp=sharing

There is also a lot of water damage to the cabinets, which can be seen here, but all the damage looked years old:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DCp...ew?usp=sharing

Looking at the pictures it looks like water damage could have a part in this.
Cabinets can warp out of shape after leakage.
Be interesting to know where the leakage was from, and what repairs were done.
Perhaps the deck joint as mentioned.
That played the biggest part in my repairs of a bulkhead on my vessel.
However the bulkhead in my boat was a compression bulkhead, as my mast is deck stepped.
Since repairing the bulkhead and sealing the leaks, there has been no more issues.
Look in those hard to see areas under the floor as they can be missed.
Nice interior!
SV Cloud Duster

[Lance Monotone]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

Looking at the pictures it looks like water damage could have a part in this.
Cabinets can warp out of shape after leakage.
Be interesting to know where the leakage was from, and what repairs were done.
Perhaps the deck joint as mentioned.
That played the biggest part in my repairs of a bulkhead on my vessel.
However the bulkhead in my boat was a compression bulkhead, as my mast is deck stepped.
Since repairing the bulkhead and sealing the leaks, there has been no more issues.
Look in those hard to see areas under the floor as they can be missed.
Nice interior!
SV Cloud Duster

How long did your bulkhead repair take and how difficult was it? Did you remove and replace it?

Yes, the interior was otherwise in great shape for a boat of this vintage. I'm not afraid of the bulkhead or woodwork but it's a negotiating point if it's substantial. I've been watching some Youtubes about it and while it doesn't look particularly difficult, it does look tedious.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Lance Monotone

How long did your bulkhead repair take and how difficult was it? Did you remove and replace it?

Yes, the interior was otherwise in great shape for a boat of this vintage. I'm not afraid of the bulkhead or woodwork but it's a negotiating point if it's substantial. I've been watching some Youtubes about it and while it doesn't look particularly difficult, it does look tedious.

I worked on for 3 months.
Had for the most part worked on it through a head locker using one hand as i couldn't get both hands in there to glass it in.
There are some tricks i learned in process.
SV Cloud Duster

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

I worked on for 3 months.
Had for the most part worked on it through a head locker using one hand as i couldn't get both hands in there to glass it in.
There are some tricks i learned in process.
SV Cloud Duster

It was difficult to remove bungs and screws so as not to damage the trim mainly Tedious? Yes.
Biggest trick was how to get a whole panel thru the hatch.
Answer, scarf cut.
Being a mechanic not a shipwright or carpenter, i had to learn.
You can do it!
SV Cloud Duster