BULKHEAD RING FRAMES
Q: My boat has the nav-station/sink forward and solid bulkheads at the aft end of the cabin. I’ve noticed some boats with the nav-station/sink forward have openings in those aft bulkheads and can store sails, etc much more easily in the quarterberth area. Can I modify my boat to match?
A: Yes you can. If you have a solid bulkhead(s) at the aft end of the cabin, you can convert those to ring frames as came stock from the builder for other boats. When doing so, you have to be cautious to not compromise the physical integrity of the boat since that bulkhead provides support for the hull and forward end of the cockpit. After consultation with J-Boats, it was determined that the ring frame must be at least 6″ in thickness to provide sufficient rigidity which matches the ring size used by the builder. In other words, the minimum amount of material between the opening and the hull, deck, or other edge of the bulkhead must be at least 6″. This same modification can be made to the bulkheads at the aft end of the cockpit seats which allows much easier access especially to the port quarter and the pushpit bolts.
You will need to adjust your weight certificate for the removed material afterwards.