Replacing V-Berth Plywood

bearley · Post by **bearley** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:32 am

Can someone tell me how the fixed pieces of plywood in the C-26 forward berth are attached to the sides of the hull? I want to replace mine, but I can't see how it attaches.

Thanks,
Bob

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:27 am

'glassed in with about 4" wide tape. When you cut the ply pieces take into account the angle of the hull and the pieces will wedge in place under their own weight, then you can glass them in..there's bit of a trick to it to get them to wind up at the same level as the 'ice chest' bulkhead, so mark the hull before you rip out the old, then overcut and then sneak up on it...

been there, done that, twice on two different boats now..

Chrysler20%26 · Post by **Chrysler20%26** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:10 pm

More good info, from the man on C-26 Thank You EE

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:18 am

Well, its like that fellow Red Green up at the Possum Lodge says...'if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy'...

bearley · Post by **bearley** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:45 am

Thanks, EE.

I can understand what you mean by "sneak up on it". I may try attaching a few blocks to the hull sides with epoxy, and laying the plywood on that. Would you recommend a thicker plywood than original?

Bob

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:36 am

I used thicker than original on EE, and original on the project boat..original on the project boat sagged a bit until I braced it.

I'd go a bit thicker, more forgiving..

Also both EE and the project had a 3 piece system in the VBerth, 2 small side triangles, a smaller triangle in the middle and farther forward with bracing under the joints..I used one solid piece on EE, but followed the pattern on the project. One big one was easier to adjust to fit right..and felt more solid..

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:54 pm

You guys replacing your V berth plywood... a few photos please. I don't foresee a full V berth replacment in my future. However I will need to reinforce the sides of the V berth where a P.O. cut out an access hatch.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler C26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:00 pm

ask and it is done !!

A few EE pics here
http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep ... 280880&ck=

And some Fairwinds pics here..

before

during

and almost done

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:03 pm

EmergencyExit wrote:..I used one solid piece on EE, but followed the pattern on the project. One big one was easier to adjust to fit right..and felt more solid..

No I didn't, lol...its all running together...I used one piece of the thinner on the project..looking at the pics reminded me..memory is slipping..

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:34 pm

Beauty!

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:14 am

mcrandall wrote:Beauty!

Thank you ! Hopefully that will be her next owner's thoughts first time he sees her !! Would love to keep her but two C26's (and a Cal21 and a Coronado C15) would be a bit much...

Hoping to get down to just EE and the Cal21..if not just EE.

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:32 am

EmergencyExit wrote: Hoping to get down to just EE and the Cal21..if not just EE.

No your not! LOL! You love it and you know it!!!!

Scott

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:52 am

Who ? Me ?

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:17 am

E.E.

I'm sure there are a number of us who envy your boat problem. Thanks for the photos, as you can see in this work in progress photo that the access hatch cut into my V-berth is a considerable size. The two smaller triangle looking sections to Port and Starboard are what need extra bracing. I could be wroung but my old V-berth looks like a one pice cut.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:58 am

hp18carr wrote:E.E.

I'm sure there are a number of us who envy your boat problem.

..but it gets to a point where you don't have time to use any of them for figuring out what to fix next on another of them !!!

One man, one woman, one boat..words for the wise to heed, lol...

thepartydog · Post by **thepartydog** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:37 am

Terrance,

You've got the same fore deck design as i do and my v berth decking is the same design also, with the large access hatch.

D

bearley · Post by **bearley** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:19 pm

Terrence,

What are you using to smooth the side walls? (I hope he doesn't say "tons of elbow grease!)

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:53 pm

If you look closely at the before pics on Fairwinds, you'll see the same large cutout for the hatch. Really weakens the vberth in my opinion.

Bearley I can tell you how I smoothed the sides..I didn't. Between the pretty white vinyl and the hull is a thin panel of solid pink foam board..

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:33 pm

Bearley

The tons of elbow grease is not far off...

. The photo is not close enough for you to see that even after a couple of coats of primer the walls are far from smooth. I'll make due with just working toward a new paint job for now, here is an old as found photo to show that progress is being made.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler C26' 1980
Pandora (for now)