The new bulkheads are Hydrotek plywood (Merenti =- pseudo-mahogany) trimmed with African mahogany, which is (almost) a true mahogany & the original 'ribbon figure' wood on our Ballad. I re-purposed as much of the old plywood as feasible; it too was of mixed species and quality. Some of what you see will be painted later. It seemed sensible to varnish it all, then paint over the bits we prefer white. Our new head is a dessicating/composting model, which relieves us of the need for a holding tank, hoses, thru-hull, pumpout, and that lingering odor that often seems to attend them. OTOH, dry toilets are not for everyone.MarkRyan1981 wrote:I love the detailing on the grab rail and the top of the bulkhead. What wood did you use? What are you using the space under the V berth in the forecabin for now you have your new wizard holding tank in the main saloon?
Great progress! When are you hoping to have her ready to go?
Under the V-berth... no clue what we will do there. Saving that part for next year. We'll keep the bow water tank, convert the old head & wet locker to stowage. Maybe store sails under the V? Soft goods anyway. Our solar oven fits under the stbd settee (across from the big water tank). Remainder of the settees will store food & spare parts. A panel will pull out to bridge the settees, creating a large bed in the cabin when at anchor.
It's hard to imagine launching for at least two or three more years. Ah well. Ocean isn't going anywhere.
Stamped 'Nautor' on the side. People have sometimes described the Ballad as a 'mini Swan', and now we have the halyard lifts to prove it. 
We just need to figure out the best method for tying it to the hull structure, to prevent the 'diaphragm effect' you mention. Should we tab the main bulkhead to the coachroof top? That's where I am currently stuck. I think probably we will, just because we can. We've now tied the big bulkhead to the floors by the mast truss (it really wasn't attached, before). We'll make a stainless tang or chainplate that ties the mast collar/horse collar's front thru-bolt to the bulkhead, with a straight load path to the floors. (On our Ballad, that forward collar bolt was just a lag screw, biting maybe 1" into the mahogany header -- which had split along the short grain where the bolt ended.) Then we will put a similar tang, bracket, or tie rod from the aft mast collar/horse collar thru-bolt attaching to the mast. Maybe a turnbuckle or other tensioning device? 