Bulkhead/room divider removal

[Paulg25]

I have been looking into what is available, motor boat wise, with a view to getting a long term/permanent liveaboard.

Still not 100% sure whether it will be a river cruiser (alphacraft style) or a coastal cruiser (Princess 41 style) but coastal would be preferred due to location flexibility. River probably gets most internal space for overall dimensions though.

What I have decided is that it must be at least 40 feet long and 12 feet wide.

So, most, if not all motor boats (not including canal boats) are designed, it seems, for weekend and holiday use. A 40+ foot boat will sleep up to 8 people and the internal layout is designed for this.

I want a boat for use by me and up to 2 dogs.

I don't need 3 bedrooms (cabins) and 2 loos (heads).

Can I remove (internal) walls to make the layout suit my needs? Are any of them structural?

I would have posted in the liveabord forum but they are mostly sailors.

 

[richardabeattie]

Don't see how you can identify non structural bulkheads until you know which boat you're going for.

 

[johnlilley]

Generally the full width divisions will ill be structural bulkheads, particularly if they go from maximum top to lowest bilge positions. It would be unwise to interfere with these. Other divisions or partitions used to divide areas up might be exactly that and can be non structural. if the partition is not replicated on the other side of the boat the it I likely it might be only of minor structural value. Bear in mind that any division bonded to the hull does add structural support to the hull and the more that is removed, the less rigid the hull. Strongly advise to obtain the advice of the builder if the vessel is still in production or a good surveyor .

 

[lw395]

I'm no expert on motorboats, but ISTM most of the 35 to 40ft coastal motorcruisers I've been on have had 1 double cabin and a saloon. Plus varying size engine room of course.
Anything intended to go fast at sea will probably have quite a few bulkheads, but these may be mostly below the level of the cabin sole.

Canal charter boats may pack in a lot more bunks.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The assumption is that ANY bulkhead (or "room divider") is structural unless you know for certain otherwise. The only safe way of finding whether a bulkhead can be moved or removed is to ask the designer or a well-recommended surveyor who is a member of a respected professional organization and has solid professional indemnity insurance!

Others have noted that motorboats that operate solely on the canals may well encounter lower stresses than sea-going boats, because of the lower speeds and lower likelihood of encountering severe wave conditions. HOWEVER, if a boat is one designed for sea use, future owners will expect it to be as strong as the original, and a severely modified boat will have zero resale value. I would regard any repositioning or removal of bulkheads as a show-stopper if I were looking at buying a boat.

 

[Paulg25]

Thanks for the replies.

Not worried about resale value.

but these may be mostly below the level of the cabin sole.

I'll leave anything below 'floor' level alone.

 

[pvb]

Not worried about resale value.

Good for you! In that case, you can do what you want. But make sure your insurers are aware.

 

[Graham376]

Be very careful what you remove, I know it's not a yacht but a cautionary tale. A guy with a Conwy based yacht (IIRC a Hurley) many years ago decided there would be more space if he removed a small bulkhead. When out sailing, he noticed strange noises, then the rig went slack and the mast headed south. Inshore life boat involved from what I remember.