Making the forward Cabin bigger

Finally got out of the bilge in the forward part of the boat and started on Chad's cabin. After removing the galley we have a lot of space left down there. So we decided to enlarge the forward cabin which is where Chad will be living for the last 2 years of High School.
The first job was to build the new bulkhead which of course has to fit the hull and deck shape.


The 2 vertical square poles you see are set plumb and square to the center line of the boat at the aft face of the bulkhead to be. They give my a inference to measure to to fit the bulkhead. There is a level which I am using as a straight edge clamped to the further pole. Using this you can mark where the bulkhead will meet the hull.

Here you can see the level again with the pattern clamped to it. The small light colored shape just above the level is a piece of the foam which goes between the hull and the bulkhead. The keeps the bulkhead from creating a hard spot in the hull. You can see the pattern (light colored) against the hull and then rising up the cabin side. There is also a section below the bottom of the picture.




Here is the pattern out of the boat on the sheet of plywood that will be part of the bulkhead. It took 2 4' wide sheets to make the whole bulkhead. The hull shape is rising going away from you.

Here is the first section of bulkhead in place. it is clamped to the vertical support so I know that it is plumb. You can see the line of foam between the hull side and plywood. This foam is shaped to make a 45 degree angle to the hull and plywood to form a fillet for the glasswork. That make the glass stronger.

Moving right long I have fitted the second piece and then spliced them together with epoxy glue and biscuits. All ready to be glassed in.

So this is how much space is added to his cabin. The aft wall use to be at the aft end of the bunk where the crow bar is hanging. Its about 3' of space the whole width of the boat. I plan to build a corner deck and book case in this space.