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Weatherly,

I tried to contact you thru the email address from our previous conversations but get a 'failure' response now.

Did you change your email? Please contact me.

I need help with a Menemsha mahogany gunnel panel issue. I took the aft panels off both sides for refinishing and now they don't fit? There is a bracket through bolted to the gunnel wall that seems to block them from reseating under the gunnel lip.

Any Menemsha owners out there? I need some detail pics. I'm thinking these are not the original panels.

Thanks, GF

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Hi Guitarfish: Good to hear from you. I have a recommendation. Please post here photographs of your Menemsha and explain further what it is you are trying to figure out. That way the data is etched permanently into the website, for others to read in the future. I know how to solve your dilemma; I just want you to give more before taking away. Sound like a plan? And I cand send you an image to show you how the bracket attaches to the plywood panel.

[Edited title per request. Delayed due to travel.- Phil

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Thanks for the reply. I agree we should always post solutions, but I have failed multiple times trying to get pictures to post here.

Perhaps you can tell me if the panel fits flush all the way to the rear? If it does not then my problem is not a problem, and I am over thinking it.

None of the many pics I took of the Menemsha show this detail.

Your description of the 'plywood' panels tells me I am correct in my assumption that these are not original. Mine are solid wood, 3/4" thick.

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The interior plywood panels fasten to the length of the fiberglass superstructure cuddy top, just forward of the through hull bolted aluminium bracket.

Take a look at Tom Crane's photographs of his Menemsha project and you will see the aluminium bracket and the old panels he removed from which he then made new ones using old as a template.

https://s165.photobucket.com/user/tdc...sha?page=1

There is a solid piece of mahogany wood that is cut to fasten with screws rear-facing onto the backside of the aluminium-through hull attached bracket. You can see this piece of wood in the photograph of my Menemsha posted in my website link.

Also, I just looked at the photograph I have of your Menemsha. For sure, the solid 3/4 inch mahogany cockpit bulkhead panel is not original.

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I'm aware of the bracket and the additional wood block piece to fit the rear cap, etc.

My question is not how to reassemble the block and cap. I was sure the panel was flush in both the top and bottom 'channel' all the way to the rear before, but now the bracket seems to prevent it from seating flush.

I may just grind off the bracket edge and make it work. The design of the bracket has me confused. It seems way overbuilt and almost unnecessary to accommodate two small wood pieces.

I just want my panel to sit flush all the way back. Since it isn't original maybe I just need to start hacking to make it look right to me.

I think from some other pics found thru google that the original panels were thinner?

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Yes, the original plywood panels were 1/2 inch thick to fit flush into the bulkhead. Do not grind off the bracket. The bracket is vital to securing the rear section of the cuddy to the gunwale. The original plywood panel also is an integral part of securing the cuddy to the gunwale; As much as the panel serves as a decorative mahogany plywood coated with a gloss urethane finish where you can stow gear. I will send you a photograph.

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Weatherly, thank you for clearing that up. I was too eager to get mine apart to buff the interior and as a result didn't pay close enough attention to the way things were assembled.

I was going crazy trying to get it back the way Whaler did it, (flush), but with the thicker panels they were butt up against the bracket.

I will be removing a quarter inch from the edge of the bracket. I don't believe the bracket strength will be compromised at all.

I will have to fabricate new blocks and end caps as mine are holey.

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GF: It might be a little easier to notch the solid mahogany piece of wood than the more rigid piece of aluminium bracket. I once tried to remove the bracket on my boat but galvanic bonding of stainless to aluminium (yes, the part is aluminium, not anodized) was bolted together permanently and I did not want to break such a unique fitting piece or essential hardware needed to secure the cuddy structure to the gunwale.

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Luckily I came to the same conclusion before I saw this. I did indeed notch into the side panel itself.

My brackets have Nylock nuts so I'm pretty sure they will come right off if I needed to.

I am taking a break from making up the blocks and end caps. After lunch I will start applying the finish.

Thanks for your assistance.