V berth flexing on wave impacts

[robshookphoto]

Hey all.

I just finished 1500nm upwind, nonstop from West Palm Beach to Culebra.

Pounding into the seas created by the trades, some significant flexing in the v berth came to my attention.

I’d like to know what others have done about this. The video should show the severity.

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A post shared by Robert Carpenter Shook (@robertcarpentershook)

My impulse is to glass in some stringers to add stiffness.

I’m also interested in settling a debate between a friend and I. My 2016 survey (entire hull is dry and solid, by the way) said that the hull is cored below the waterline. And it is true that the hull is thicker below the waterline – you can see the increase in thickness in the lazerettes.

My friend doesn’t think it’s cored, just that they used more glass below the waterline.

Do we have any of the original spec or design sheets to answer questions like this? I suppose things also may have changed throughout the years the 424 and 422 were produced.

Pearson 424 cutter - "Effie"

[Rob Osterman]

Hey Rob,

That video is super scary. How high were the waves? Were you headed straight into the waves? Are you seeing any gel coat cracks on the hull?

People have posted about this before — search oil canning. After reading a few stories from others, I decided to do the suggested reinforcements from the boat’s architect. I also added additional tabbing to the forward bulkhead as I noticed there were gaps between bulkhead and hull above the height of the anchor locker door.

Reinforcing the V-Berth / Battens / Ceiling Boards

Before I reinforced the v-berth, I could flex the hull if I wedged myself on either side and pushed with my feet. I can’t do that anymore and it feels a lot more rigid.

[unabated]

My shelf is glasses in at the fwd end. And all along the bottom.

I pounded for week to Bermuda and that never happened.
BTW. Hull is solid glass. Thick solid glass.
Alan

[Seawater]

I lined the v berth with Ash battens. I glassed vertical strips of .t inch plywood to accept the screws. Together with the battens, they eliminate flex. If I had it to do over again I would use a plywood that was made from hardwood or hardwood strips steam-bent into position. The softwood of the plywood is not ideal for giving the relatively short screws good holding. Along with the 5 layers of glass mat, it seems to have been enough, but hard wood would have been better.

It has lasted several thousand see miles as is, some of it quite rough.

[dagigsup]

This project has also been on my “to do” list.

While I did not personally view any hull flexing underway, I did see some trim pieces around the forward shelves “shifted” after she was bounced around during Irma. While Indulgence never left the mooring, other boats that broke loose did make impact on the hull. So i’m not entirely sure what caused the trim shift…seas or collision.

The information here will make this project much easier for me to complete. Thanks all for sharing.

** I have another question to post in another topic after seeing the anchor chain in these photos.

Thanks again!

[robshookphoto]

Thanks all. Seas were probably 8ft. I went offshore from West Palm Beach to Culebra against the trades, so lots of dead upwind sailing over 12 days. No cracks in the gel coat.

Pearson 424 cutter - "Effie"

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