> Hi, should bulkheads and deckbeams be installed before glassing the
> outside of the hull or the other way around. In the clc manual for stitch
> and glue construction the bulheads bit follows the glassing bit. In the
> Chesapeak plans section it comes before.

> Thanks in advance

On my Chesapeake 17 I stitched the bulkheads in place with a couple wire ties on each side. If you're doing it this way you most certainly will want to install them before glassing. Even if you're not going to stitch them I would think it makes sense to do it before glassing.

I did not install my deckbeams until after glassing. Now I wish I had done them before, simply because CLC has you screw through the hull and sheer clamp to hold them in place. I now have a screw head on the outside of my glass, I would prefer it the other way around. But, maybe the plywood without glass isn't strong enough for the screw. Probably a good question to ask before changing the CLC recommended order of things.

Also, when you're installing the front deckbeam on your Chesapeake; install it about a quarter inch below the top of the sheer clamps. This way when you come along later and plane them, everything will turn out with the correct radius. If that doesn't make sense feel free to email me with more questions.

-Roger Donahe