Aft bulkhead screw revisited

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Everyone,

My partner in Esprit du Vent and engine guru Franco tried to remove the aft bulkhead and got it to the point of the "hidden screw."  At that point I searched for the issue and I think I found all of the articles.  Our boat is a 1987 model (hull 422) and it definitely has the missing screw.  Can someone who has found it describe where it is or better yet, take a picture.

BTW, Franco reports that all of the screws were the same size.  Perhaps the PO made that change so as not to poke the aft water tank.

We are starting to look at wiring changes and other maintenance issues so we need the aft section wide open.

TIA and smooth sailing,

Bob

[n624ma]

Bob,
Look on the starboard side of the bulkhead on the inboard side of the "Ell" near the top and you will see a circle about 1/2" diameter that almost matches the surrounding fiberglass gelcoat.

It's putty hiding the screw head. It hides it very well!

I'll get a picture next time I'm at the boat.

[Steve W10]

Hey Bob,

Try here....

Steve

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Thanks!  We will try again to remove the bulkhead.  Bob

[Fred Koehlmann]

That photo brings up an question from me. I like the additional storage that you have there, but where is your propane tank locker? On our MkII we have no storage there and I suspect it is because we have a propane locker somewhere just behind there.

[Roc]

Frederick,
I think if you peek your head into the starboard aft lazarette, where the refrigerator compressor is, I believe there is some room to cut a hole and put a little cabinet to extend into the empty cavity.

[Indian Falls]

I removed mine last December... there are two stainless wood screws I had to saw off with a bare hacksaw blade because the factory installed things AFTER this bulkhead was screwed into the insert that dropped into the hull.
I then took my piece of plywood home for a proper refinnishing.  I did not try to replace the sawed off screws as they are not really needed to hold this panel in place.  I used a 2' long phillips screwdriver through the aft lazzarette to get the others, with a  helper guiding the tip to the screw head.  This is the STUPIDEST installation of a panel at the factory that I could imagine.  At this point I realized how tough it will be to drop the rudder, cuz this panel and the aft water tank need to come out for that to occur.  Good luck fellow sailors!