Forward bulkhead of tank, port & starboard side basically the same

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023, Milwaukee
Date: 4/15/08 6:40p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

I just included the starboard side, for a couple of reasons. First, it's the worst discolored, right there at the end. Black look. Rest of it is that burnished 'honey' look to it, same as port. A steel rod indicates that this is all very hard yet (again, I've not accessed it with my hands as of yet). If so, the discoloration is meaningless to me. I've been on to many ranches, to many farms, with 100+ year old barns... no covering coat for 60-80 years, where the wood looks rotted but is harder than iron. OK, ok, perhaps wishful thinking on my part (can you blame me?) but it is all still structurally sound. Cudos on that. The one thing readily apparent to me at first glance, is that there appears to be something different here than from others 2023's. I believe that every internal shot I've seen so far (I could be wrong) shows that this 1" strip of wood across the top riser, right at the sole, STOPS about 5-6 inches from where sole, bulkhead and hull all meet (chine?). Also, a couple of you guys indicated having to fill this area. Notice on mine, that the wood clearly projects right into this joint? Oh, by the way, I found my factory OEM bottom drain valve. It was closed, cut short as possible (suspected locknut) and covered when the hump was removed by multiple layers of glass. (to regress in my venting, I cannot understand why the PO did such good work in places, then replaced the sole cut-out (access plate for modified drain/fill) with simply BARE wood! At this point, I'm seeing indications of there having been TWO different people having done work in here, a pro, and the PO). I've a lot more shots, but don't know if any more are really worth posting. The baffle plates (suprise to me) are in excellent condition! Appears (for now) what I'm looking at is LESS than what I expected, but also MORE than what I should have found, thanks to the PO's cut through the sole!!! Feel comment free....