12 meter bulkhead has lead on it

[tcollins2]

Just about ready to buy a 1990 12 meter express next week. I read that the bulkheads might have some rot due to salt water coming in through the air intakes. Surveyor and I checked the bulkhead and it was spongy and wet. What we found was a thin coating of lead backed by some thin foam. It seems that this sponge material is wicking up water from the bilge. We took out a 1 foot section of this and found the bulkhead to be all fiberglass. Does any one know about this construction method and should I be overly concerned?

[prowlersfish]

Don't be overly concerned that lead/foam is just sound shield . If the bulk head is good then no worries . If its wicking up water I would just raise or remove the lower part of it . You could remove it but the would be a increases of Engine/genset noise . Do you have 671 Detroit Diesels ?

[tcollins2]

Yes it has 6-71 TA's. I'm only going to cut out the bottom 10 inches or so so it stops wicking up water. If the water level gets that high, I'll obviously have greater issues!
I don't think the noise level will increase that much from the lead removal, if at all.
Thanks! Tom