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my engine is shoe horned into the back of the boat.. to access the water pump or shaft means squeezing full out over the engine

I've seen someone else with a cockpit hatch. would anyone recommend against doing it?

how would you do it?

heres some photos of the situation.. i'm thinking only a 35cm hatch would be required..

cheers
shea

G'day Shea,
I have a round Nairn inspection opening https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_item ... olutePage= positioned to the aft end of that roped rectangle area you marked out.
Its 200mm wide, right above the stern gland, its not really very practical & is only useful for one-handed tasks, there would be better solutions i'm sure, like a larger rectangle cut-out like you showed. But the round inspection opening would certainly be easier to install.
I know the Top Hat Felicite has a good opening cockpit sole about the same dimensions you have marked out, there might be some photos on this site somewhere.

My motor is in the same position Shea, but the water pump is on the front.

Consider how many times you may access the pump before cutting any holes.

I also think the area you show is too big. Better to just have a rectangular [bow stern long side] opening in the centre.
Reasoning for this is that around 5 knots you will get water into the cockpit via the lower cockpit drain.
It also means you will only cut one support to the deck of the cockpit. You can see the three of them in your photo.

Consider what you put in as you may stub your toes on it.

Whats the name of your Mark 1?

i agree better not to cut any holes.. very hard to access the shaft coupling and gland etc and replacing the water pump was an undertaking..

i was thinking of putting some wood slats in the cockpit so i don't have to stand in water when it drags up through the drains when i hit 5 knots so that would hopefully cover any hatch..

boat is waitangi
cheers
shea

I also have an access hole from the starboard locker under the qtr berth into the engine area, that was there to help remove the oil filter, maybe a similar option is viable in your case to eliminate holes in cockpit floors.
Phil brings up a good point about the Mk 1 cockpit sole.
Mk 1's have a lower cockpit sole, or different design. Mk 2 & 3's must have a higher (above the water) cockpit sole, I haven't noticed very much water in cockpits under normal conditions, but have noticed more water in Mk 1's cockpit.
cheers

hole in the starboard quarter berth sounds like a much better fix

cheers
shea

Someone in Galini's history took a jigsaw to the cockpit floor. So about 40ish cm back from the cabin hatch there is a wooden access hatch in the deck about 40cm long and 30cm wide.

While there don't appear to be any structural issues and being able to get to the shaft, especially to put some grease in the shaft and check the transmission oil etc, is really useful. It does have one major floor (pun intended).

The cover that has been put in is just a hinged cover... But no waterproofing... The rim under the hatch is 4 seperate pieces of wood, with gaps, so no matter how much rubber waterproofing I can't stop water getting in. Fortunately the battery and the bilge pump keep the bilge at a suitable level when it rains.

So at some point I have to put in a new and waterproof hatch, which won't be an easy job, or at least figure out how to properly waterproof it....

found this today at whitworths.. it's about 40x40cm.. pricey though.. 120 bucks..




i'm jealous of your access but nervous i'd create more problems if i cut into the floor so i'm giving the idea away.. a friendly bystander was talking me into it today on the dock.. sounded easy at the time..

The Whitworths hatch looks like what I had mounted inside on my poly runabout. Vertically, so access was available into the hull. Whenever water built up on the floor, it leaked into the hatch once the water was 2' deep on the floor. The seals never worked. Perhaps because the poly material had insufficient rigidity to maintain a good seal against the hatch fitting. I have used the hatch since on my catamaran in a horizontal position. It's ok except for a capsize. I would not put it on my floor.

gallery/image.php?album_id=10&image_id=125
Gday Shea,
Hopefully here is a link to the photo in the gallery showing the access hatch in the cockpit sole. It was installed by the previous owner when he got the wheel steering installed. Diesel mechanics like working on it as it gives great access to the stern gland etc.
A removeable bulkhead next to the quarterberth seems like a better option, and a more common one.
Hope it helps.
Greg.