Galley mods for engine access CD 28?

[Mike Q.]

While I was Working on the waterpump of my 28 today I realized that
I could remove the galley sink and slide totaly over the top of the engine, Giving me previously uknown access to this cramped space. This
event got me thinking that it may be possible to remove a section from the sink/step area and replace it with a removable section containing
the sink and the step allowing total access to the engine from above.
The problem is; what if any does the galley countertop play in the structure of the boat? And would a hole in it 18"X 24" weaken the boat?
How about some opinions out there. Mike Q.



mikieq@erols.com

[denny]

I think it's a good idea. I've thought of making the same modification to my boat also a CD28, 1981. The counter top must provide some rigidity to the midship hull, but there is a bulkhead just aft of the counter and additional cabinetry adding support. I was thinking of cutting the counter out and adding stiffeners to the edges . The cut out counter can then be bolted into place through the stiffeners. With several 3/8" bolts holding the counter section in place the structural integrity of the galley, step, and hull would be maintained. Good carpentry skills would be needed to prevent butchering your galley and cabin.
And while mentioning water pump, I replaced the flat head blade screws in the pump cover with allen head cap screws. This makes it alot easier to remove the cover for maintenance, but watch out these screws are metric or something and are hard to match up. I ended up pulling the pump and retapping the threads. Also, I relocated the seawater strainer from the the engine compartment to the aft bulkhead just outboard of the fuel tank. This opened up the whole port side of the engine for maintenance. It helps alot.

While I was Working on the waterpump of my 28 today I realized that
I could remove the galley sink and slide totaly over the top of the engine, Giving me previously uknown access to this cramped space. This
event got me thinking that it may be possible to remove a section from the sink/step area and replace it with a removable section containing
the sink and the step allowing total access to the engine from above.
The problem is; what if any does the galley countertop play in the structure of the boat? And would a hole in it 18"X 24" weaken the boat?
How about some opinions out there. Mike Q.

[Mike Q]

I think it's a good idea. I've thought of making the same modification to my boat also a CD28, 1981. The counter top must provide some rigidity to the midship hull, but there is a bulkhead just aft of the counter and additional cabinetry adding support. I was thinking of cutting the counter out and adding stiffeners to the edges . The cut out counter can then be bolted into place through the stiffeners. With several 3/8" bolts holding the counter section in place the structural integrity of the galley, step, and hull would be maintained. Good carpentry skills would be needed to prevent butchering your galley and cabin.
And while mentioning water pump, I replaced the flat head blade screws in the pump cover with allen head cap screws. This makes it alot easier to remove the cover for maintenance, but watch out these screws are metric or something and are hard to match up. I ended up pulling the pump and retapping the threads. Also, I relocated the seawater strainer from the the engine compartment to the aft bulkhead just outboard of the fuel tank. This opened up the whole port side of the engine for maintenance. It helps alot.

Great thought Denny, I had planed to make a pattern for the cutout
out of partical board and use my plunge router with a bushing to make the cut.Then I can remove the bushing and use a pattern bit to cut the new countertop useing the same pattern.
As for the waterpump, I've replaced the Metric screws with short pieces of all-thread stainless and thumb screws.
Mike Q.



mikieq@erols.com