cockpit access hatch

[Paul Grecay]

Hello everyone, I have a CD 28 and getting to the after end of the engine is a real problem. I am considering putting a flush access hatch in the cockpit sole to make the job easier. It appears to me that the cockpit sole is not so structurally vital that it could not have a hatch. In any case, it could be braced and fortified below if the cut out would weaken it substantially. Has anyone done or considered this type of modification? It sure would make life easier getting at the back of the engine. My CD has a 24 hp Volvo Penta MD2B which takes up alot of room. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

Paul
CD 28 Peapod
Lewes, DE

[Anthony P. Jeske]

Paul:
There is (was?) a CD-28 in Lake Michigan that had an access hatch installed in the cockpit floor. The owner did the installation.
I seem to recall that many Pacific Seacraft models have an engine access hatch as standard equipment. The biggest concern would be leak prevention.
Good Luck,

Tony Jeske



ajeske@ixpres.com

[Ken Coit]

At least some Island Packets have this feature. It looks like a great idea when it is dry; commercial boats use them. I understand they are hard to keep from leaking, but some people swear they never leak. It may be a matter of never opening them so that the seal can't be damaged or pick up grime.

If there are no posts here on the subject, try the Island Packet board at SailNet. One place or the other, someone has posted model numbers, photos, etc.

Ken Coit
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

Hello everyone, I have a CD 28 and getting to the after end of the engine is a real problem. I am considering putting a flush access hatch in the cockpit sole to make the job easier. It appears to me that the cockpit sole is not so structurally vital that it could not have a hatch. In any case, it could be braced and fortified below if the cut out would weaken it substantially. Has anyone done or considered this type of modification? It sure would make life easier getting at the back of the engine. My CD has a 24 hp Volvo Penta MD2B which takes up alot of room. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

Paul
CD 28 Peapod
Lewes, DE

parfait@nc.rr.com

[Tom]

Hello everyone, I have a CD 28 and getting to the after end of the engine is a real problem. I am considering putting a flush access hatch in the cockpit sole to make the job easier. It appears to me that the cockpit sole is not so structurally vital that it could not have a hatch. In any case, it could be braced and fortified below if the cut out would weaken it substantially. Has anyone done or considered this type of modification? It sure would make life easier getting at the back of the engine. My CD has a 24 hp Volvo Penta MD2B which takes up alot of room. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

Paul
CD 28 Peapod
Lewes, DE

Paul, When I bought my CD 31 back in '88 the surveyor reported that the cockpit sole was flexing and causing stress fractures in the cormers of the cockpit. He recommended that a teak sole be installed to stiffen the cockpit. I did this at the time and since I was building a sole, I put in an access hatch. My sole is made of 2 x 2 inch teak with payed seams. It had to be stiff. The binnacle had to be raised and remounted, the emergency tiller port had to be raised along with the holding tank fittings etc. A fairly big project. The hatch was built into the teak sole so that it is pround and water runs off of the sole down to the old f/g sole. The teak was stopped an inch from the vertical sides all around so that you can get your fingers in there to keep it clear of leaves etc. That also works as a gutter which carries the water to the cockpit drains which were not raised. It's worked well and leaking hasn't been a problem. It's not large enough for a person to crawl into, but it is really handy for sunlight, air, checking the stuffing box drip underway without unloading the cockpit locker, checking the oil in the transmission by reaching in, handing tools to the person working below, and explaining what tool you need to the person helping above, etc. I've got pictures around here someplace that I can dig out if you're interested in this type design. I think you have to do it really right if you're going to do it. Most people seem to lean toward just cutting a hole with a sabre saw and bolting a Bomar type hatch over the hole.



TomCambria@mindspring.com

[John R.]

Several years ago I made the conversion on our '83 CD30. I constructed and installed a teak hatch with payed seams similar to what Tom describes except it was just a hatch in front of the pedestal not an entire cockpit floor.

If you search the archives on this bulletin board you will find old posts I made describing the hatch in better detail and what the project was like.

The hatch has never leaked, looks great and affords fantastic access to the engine. I have a battery box below the hatch that converts to a convenient seat with the batteries removed during serious servicing. A side benefit was being able to get the batteries on the centerline and low in the hull.

One caveat to think about: I would not put a "flush" fitting hatch in the cockpit sole. You would be begging for eventual leaks unless it is a very high quality hatch. My hatch is about 1 3/4" higher than the sole and there is a framed teak dam around the opening in the sole. Think of how a shoebox top fits on the box except the box sides are no taller than the sides of the top lid. That allows for two gaskets, one contacting the sole and the other contacting the underside of the hatch (lid).

Hello everyone, I have a CD 28 and getting to the after end of the engine is a real problem. I am considering putting a flush access hatch in the cockpit sole to make the job easier. It appears to me that the cockpit sole is not so structurally vital that it could not have a hatch. In any case, it could be braced and fortified below if the cut out would weaken it substantially. Has anyone done or considered this type of modification? It sure would make life easier getting at the back of the engine. My CD has a 24 hp Volvo Penta MD2B which takes up alot of room. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

Paul
CD 28 Peapod
Lewes, DE

Paul, When I bought my CD 31 back in '88 the surveyor reported that the cockpit sole was flexing and causing stress fractures in the cormers of the cockpit. He recommended that a teak sole be installed to stiffen the cockpit. I did this at the time and since I was building a sole, I put in an access hatch. My sole is made of 2 x 2 inch teak with payed seams. It had to be stiff. The binnacle had to be raised and remounted, the emergency tiller port had to be raised along with the holding tank fittings etc. A fairly big project. The hatch was built into the teak sole so that it is pround and water runs off of the sole down to the old f/g sole. The teak was stopped an inch from the vertical sides all around so that you can get your fingers in there to keep it clear of leaves etc. That also works as a gutter which carries the water to the cockpit drains which were not raised. It's worked well and leaking hasn't been a problem. It's not large enough for a person to crawl into, but it is really handy for sunlight, air, checking the stuffing box drip underway without unloading the cockpit locker, checking the oil in the transmission by reaching in, handing tools to the person working below, and explaining what tool you need to the person helping above, etc. I've got pictures around here someplace that I can dig out if you're interested in this type design. I think you have to do it really right if you're going to do it. Most people seem to lean toward just cutting a hole with a sabre saw and bolting a Bomar type hatch over the hole.

[Joe Sankey]

We were second owners of a 1985 CD 28 with just such an arrangement, which the first owner had installed. It was a great addition, although cosmetically not a perfect job. We broke our transmission and it was useful then, as well as on a number of subsequent occasions. I'll be glad to tell you all I know, and I think I may have some photos somewhere. email me if interested.
Joe

Hello everyone, I have a CD 28 and getting to the after end of the engine is a real problem. I am considering putting a flush access hatch in the cockpit sole to make the job easier. It appears to me that the cockpit sole is not so structurally vital that it could not have a hatch. In any case, it could be braced and fortified below if the cut out would weaken it substantially. Has anyone done or considered this type of modification? It sure would make life easier getting at the back of the engine. My CD has a 24 hp Volvo Penta MD2B which takes up alot of room. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

Paul
CD 28 Peapod
Lewes, DE

sankey@gulftel.com

[John]

Hello everyone, I have a CD 28 and getting to the after end of the engine is a real problem. I am considering putting a flush access hatch in the cockpit sole to make the job easier. It appears to me that the cockpit sole is not so structurally vital that it could not have a hatch. In any case, it could be braced and fortified below if the cut out would weaken it substantially. Has anyone done or considered this type of modification? It sure would make life easier getting at the back of the engine. My CD has a 24 hp Volvo Penta MD2B which takes up alot of room. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

Paul

I just purchased a CD31 & have cockpit sole repair work so was thinking of the hatch. Had a hatch on an International Folkboat & it was great. Used my mainsheet to lift the engine out to replace the motor mounts. The hatch was flush with the sole & fit into a grove molded into the sole. It was hinged at the aft end. It did leak a little, but the leak was well worth the access. John

CD 28 Peapod
Lewes, DE

redzeplin@yahoo.com