SkipperDave
Junior Member
Ahoy: What a wonderful site. I am a relatively new owner of an Ericson 35 MK II, 1973. Essentially bought the boat because, among other reasons, I loved the lines and was convinced of quality construction pretty much throughout. Have my fair share of improvements and repairs ahead, but I am a handy guy and have worked on previous sailboats on and off for years (including a C&C Viking 28 I owned with lines remarkably similar to Ericson 35!) Top priority is chainplate repair on port side which I take to be a common task due to H2O leaks from poor bedding on deck. I have done this repair before on another boat and basically plan to scarf in a new piece of wood bonded with epoxy and fiberglass and then rebolt chainplate (STAINLESS IS FINE) with larger metal backing plate on the head side of bulkhead distributing the ‘upwards shear pull’ across about three times the width of chainplate with said backing plate. My specific problem relates to access to old rotten bulkhead as it meets the bottom of deck inside of molded headliner. It appears I will have to cut into headliner to gain access either from main salon or preferably from head side. I have attached a few mediocre pics detailing obstruction of headliner to where I need to get at. Wondering if other owners know why molded headliner bulges approx 3 inches thick as it approaches hull inside on salon side of bulkhead? Would this be a structural form to mitigate shifting of entire headliner as boat flexes in heavy seas? Whatever the reason, I am inclined to cut into headliner to access bulkhead from ‘head side’. Any light shed on this aspect of repair would be much appreciated plus any further tips on chainplate/bulkhead project on whole would be great.