⛵️ This Bulkhead will PREVENT our boat from Sinking!! Ep.343

Join us as we dive into an exciting week in the construction of our new 43-foot exploration sailboat. This episode focuses on a crucial stage – the installation of two significant watertight bulkheads within the boat’s structure. Our team has been working tirelessly to create a stable, secure vessel, and this week brings significant progress towards that goal.

The First Bulkhead – Cockpit Locker

In the previous video, you saw the boat’s transformation without these vital bulkheads. This week, that changed as we welcomed two crucial ones into the structure. The first bulkhead to be installed is the cockpit locker bulkhead. As the name suggests, it resides in the area where the seats and storage for our sailing adventures will be located.

The primary purpose of this bulkhead is to ensure that the loss of our rudder system, should it happen during a sail, will not compromise the safety and integrity of the entire boat. By creating a watertight space around the rudder, we’ve designed the boat so that in case of failure, water can accumulate in this isolated area without threatening to sink us.

The Second Bulkhead – The Workshop and Storage

As impressive as the cockpit locker bulkhead is, it pales in comparison to the sheer size of the second one. At first glance, it seems enormous; however, much of its bulk will be cut away over time to create the perfect space for our needs. Initially, leaving the full bulkhead in place makes the process easier for those working on its construction and installation.

This massive bulkhead not only provides a watertight compartment but also marks out key areas within our boat’s design. Upon entry, you’ll see it creates a distinct separation between the living quarters (the boat) and the storage areas, rudder system, workshop, and cockpit further behind. This division is essential for efficient space management aboard our sailboat.

Overcoming Challenges – The Curving of Watertight Panels

The real challenge, as demonstrated in this episode, lies in curving and installing these heavy-duty 1 cm thick aluminum panels. With the cockpit locker bulkhead securely in place, we turned our focus to tackling this significant milestone.

The bow of the boat features intricate curves that needed careful shaping. To accomplish this task, we’ve used Strongall, a construction method resembling origami where the right lengths and shapes of plates are welded together to form the desired curvature organically.

The Process Behind Shaping Aluminum Panels

This week, we witnessed the bulkhead’s installation with a significant twist. Our team utilized a combination of methods, including welding, bending, and manual manipulation to ensure that each panel fitted perfectly within our boat’s framework. The tension involved in this process required innovative solutions such as using chains, weights, and jacks to guide and secure each panel into place.

Conclusion

The installation of these two significant bulkheads marks a major milestone in our sailboat build. As we’ve seen, the process is not without its challenges; however, with determination and ingenuity, our team has overcome them to make impressive progress. We can’t wait to share more about this exciting journey as it unfolds!

If you enjoyed learning about the intricacies of boat building or want to see how these bulkheads enhance the safety and functionality of our sailboat, don’t forget to watch the full episode here. And please, like and share this video if you find it informative or inspiring!

Next Steps

In the coming weeks, our focus will shift to another challenging piece of the construction process – shaping and fitting the bow cone. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into this intricate process, exploring how they plan to tackle these curves using marks, measurements, and patience.

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