Date: Tue 29 Sep 2009 - 22:02:29 PDT
To: <gregh414@hotmail.com>
Here are a few pictures showing the deflection. I am now shopping for the appropriate piece of stainless steel plate to repair the bulkhead.
Robert E. Izmirian
rizmirian@comcast.net
From: owner-olson911@sailpix.com [mailto:owner-olson911@sailpix.com] On Behalf Of rizmirian@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 9:55 AM
To: gregh414@hotmail.com
Cc: olson911@SailPix.com; William Hardy
Subject: Re: Do I have a unique problem?
Greg, I simply placed the straight edge of a batten in a vertical position against the salon side of the bulkhead at the point where the chainplate attaches. No big science to my test. The deflection is noticable with the straight edge as a reference, and once you notice it you wonder why you didn't see it beforehand.
I'm going to hazard a guess that any of our boats, if sailed long enough in big breeze, will show some deflection, so the real issue is how much is too much. I concluded that my boat's was too much because the Melamine on the head side of the bulkhead was showing significantly more cracking and a pronounced bulge. I'm fairly confident in my approach to a fix and will feel much better about the boat once I make it.
I changed my boat over to a roller furling headsail 2 years ago when I replaced all of my standing rigging. I found the boat to have a very heavy helm in breeze over about 12 knots and assumed it was because of the rounder entry of the Doyle headsail as compared to my racing 3DL no. 3. Recently I figured out how to move the furler drum to get to the turnbuckle and realized the headstay tension was very loose, contributing to the over-fullness of the headsail. I don't know if the riggers set it up that slack or if the new wire rigging stretched or if the movement of the chainplate caused the mast to move forward. In any event, I tightened it up to solve the problem with my helm and that's when the bulkhead issues became noticable. Maybe it's just coincidence, or not....
One of the earliest members of this email group--I can't recall if it was Rich or someone else--recommended that our boats like very tight headstays. My experience confirms that recommendation. The boat sails a lot sweeter with it tight.
Bob
- Original Message ----- From: gregh414@hotmail.com To: "Robert Izmirian" <rizmirian@comcast.net>, "William Hardy" <whardy@Habaneros.com> Cc: olson911@SailPix.com Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:16:04 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: Do I have a unique problem?
Bob-
How/where did you make your measurement. I haven't noticed any problems on Alyse (hull #112), but I may be looking through rose colored glasses.
Greg Hyland
From: Robert Izmirian <mailto:rizmirian@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 12:41 AM
To: 'William <mailto:whardy@Habaneros.com> Hardy'
Cc: olson911@SailPix.com
Subject: RE: Do I have a unique problem?
Will, I re-did the straight edge test (vertical on the salon side of the bulkhead) and my boat failed it. There is deflection of about ¾ inch at the worst spot. I’m not sure it was ever 100% straight given Ericson’s build reputation, but it was enough to convince me to take remedial action. I am going to through bolt a stainless steel plate onto the salon side—I’m hoping for something pre-made so I don’t have to fabricate it—and carry it down to the hull, where I will glass in some G10 as a stop block. Rather than flat plate I want something with an angle for rigidity. Once it’s installed I will cover it with teak and hope it disappears.
I would be interested to learn from you and the other owners how much deflection is common on our boats. Mine is one of the very first Ericson built 911s and it has been actively raced and sailed for all of its 21 years. While I always thought it was strange to have the port and starboard chainplates so differently attached, the design worked pretty darn well all these years.
Best,
Bob
Robert E. Izmirian
rizmirian@comcast.net
From: owner-olson911@sailpix.com [mailto:owner-olson911@sailpix.com] On Behalf Of Robert Izmirian
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 8:56 PM
To: 'William Hardy'
Cc: olson911@SailPix.com
Subject: RE: Do I have a unique problem?
Will, the jury is still out on Jane Doe. I have one rigger’s opinion of “OMG, the boat is going to fall apart” and another’s “what’s the big deal?” The cracks are more than hairline, but when I use a straightedge on the salon side of the bulkhead I don’t see a lot of deflection and the head door still opens easily. Given the close tolerances on the head door, it’s pretty tempting to believe that nothing major is going on.
What is clear is that I’ve had a leak on the starboard side chainplate for a while that I need to address. If that’s the only issue I will consider myself very lucky.
Best to you. Hope all is well.
Bob
Robert E. Izmirian
rizmirian@comcast.net
From: owner-olson911@sailpix.com [mailto:owner-olson911@sailpix.com] On Behalf Of William Hardy
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 3:59 PM
To: olson911@SailPix.com
Subject: RE: Do I have a unique problem?
I have similar surface hairline cracks in my melamine finish within the head of my 1988 Ericson 911. I have been keeping an eye on it, but haven’t taken any action on it since it doesn’t appear serious at this point. Let me know how your fix works out.
Cheers,
Will
