Ferreting around in crawl spaces...

[GravyStain]

One of the reasons that I would prefer a larger boat (apart from additional lebensraum) is the size of access in the engine compartment and technical areas.

I have an iffy back (too many years of playing sports badly etc..) and once a year (ish) my L4/5 disk decides to ship material into the spinal nerve. You can imagine the rest. I'm sure many of you guys will have similar complaints.

So here's the question. In a NORMAL year, leaving COVID to one side... If you get to your boat for 6 to 8 (or however many) weeks a year, what's your experience of time spent in the oily areas etc...is it an hour a day, an hour a week, preventative maintenance based or constant niggly repairs?

Not looking for totally scientific answers, any and all will do. I'm just trying to get a feel for time taken on general chores / minor fixes etc so I can have a word with my spine and warn it of what may come to pass. As I say, I can go months with nothing more than general aches and pains (expected at my age these days) until WHAMMO and I'm doubled up chugging Naproxen like they're sweets.

Thanks for your time guys.

Chuck in any funny oily anecdotes too if you're bored. I know I am until the end of this bloody lockdown!

 

[BruceK]

The amount of time spent in the engine room is inversely proportional to the ease of access and nothing to do with age. When access is nigh on impossible without humongeous effort and removal of many heavy bits, hard to get to areas are ignored until they fail. For me to get working access to the back of my engines takes me at least a day dissasembly. Then another day fannying about with a grub screw stuck in the steering belcrank because it's still inaccessible or even 3 days removing one of a pair of ram pins which is via a 8mm hex bolt. Then comes the reassembly and the start of the second engine. Drop a socket and you're stuffed. You get to hear it roll around in the bilges while at anchor until the next time you dis-assemble.

When the kids go, I will happily give up a spare cabin in order to have a walk in engine room. Engines dont degrade, corrode and fall apart then at nearly the same rate. If they do at all. That's my belief anyway.

Dante's inspiration!

 

[kashurst]

A bigger boat doesn't always mean more space around the engines - something to look out for when considering a boat purchase. For me probably the most important. It was the dominant reason I chose my current boat. Good engine access = proper servicing because it's easy.
As for general checking through the season, it's 10 minutes most times I go out. I just look for any leaks and anything out of place/loose.
At the start of the season I will check the oils and coolants and a few times during the season or if we are going a long way.
Once a year servicing is a longer task - I can do both engines in about 3 - 3 1/2 hours.
Changing batteries I now pay someone to do it.
Stern gear gets a casual look whenever I am in the lazarrete rummaging around for a hose pipe connector or a brush of some sort.
Since buying a Rodman I seem to spend very little time fixing things.

Just to annoy BruceK. Loads of room all around.
Apologies to Seastoke - it needs cleaning.

note the small fuel tank drain sump and valve. Great for keeping an eye on whats happening in the tanks.


And from the other end looking back:

 

[BruceK]

Since buying a Rodman I seem to spend very little time fixing things.

Funny how you can quickly go off some people.

 

[kashurst]

Funny how you can quickly go off some people.

there is a price for all that room - top speed 24 kns, cruise @ 18kns.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

My boat has good access all round to both engines, ample headroom and very well lit. I'm new to mobos so don't have much to compare it to, but some that I looked at before buying this one were a nightmare, much worse than @BruceK's relatively easy access...! Engine access became a thing to consider seriously when deciding what to shortlist or reject.

As to the question - I check the oil and coolant at the start of each session. Have a general scoot round for leaks or anything that looks wrong. This is once per long weekend, it only takes a few minutes.

 

[starfire]

90 odd foot ferretti here, with big mann lumps.
Mann engineer had to go back to base to get a thinner engineer to get the port starter off.

I refused, I'm built for comfort & spend enough time wriggling around in small spaces.

One boat, you have to remove the water heater to even be able to touch the batteries, i think they were put in before the top went on.
Lots of swearing helps...

 

[jrudge]

Unless you enjoy tinkering there is no particular need to spend time in the engine room unless there is a problem.

I do check the engine room most days for something not looking ok and the levels once a week.

i had a squadron 65. You could have a party in the engine room. My current s58 is pretty tight.

take each boat on its merits

 

[BruceK]

Talking of crawl spaces. I have two, one per beam. Those are really scary. There is only enough room to edge your way in with skewed shoulders and hips. Easy enough until you have to try and back out. I only had to go in once past the access to plumbing and cable looms in order to reach the top of the fuel tanks. Never again. That panic as you get stuck makes you break sweat!! There must be a better way than crawl spaces. Did they hire kids or something when building the boat?

 

[BruceK]

You could have a party in the engine room.

You're never going to make it onto my Christmas card list!!

 

[LBRodders]

Talking of crawl spaces. I have two, one per beam. Those are really scary. There is only enough room to edge your way in with skewed shoulders and hips. Easy enough until you have to try and back out. I only had to go in once past the access to plumbing and cable looms in order to reach the top of the fuel tanks. Never again. That panic as you get stuck makes you break sweat!! There must be a better way than crawl spaces. Did they hire kids or something when building the boat?




View attachment 110762

If you wear speedos and greases yourself up, you'll be in and out like Seastoke in a gentle breeze.

Just dont post the photos here! ?

 

[GravyStain]

The amount of time spent in the engine room is inversely proportional to the ease of access and nothing to do with age. When access is nigh on impossible without humongeous effort and removal of many heavy bits, hard to get to areas are ignored until they fail. For me to get working access to the back of my engines takes me at least a day dissasembly. Then another day fannying about with a grub screw stuck in the steering belcrank because it's still inaccessible or even 3 days removing one of a pair of ram pins which is via a 8mm hex bolt. Then comes the reassembly and the start of the second engine. Drop a socket and you're stuffed. You get to hear it roll around in the bilges while at anchor until the next time you dis-assemble.

When the kids go, I will happily give up a spare cabin in order to have a walk in engine room. Engines dont degrade, corrode and fall apart then at nearly the same rate. If they do at all. That's my belief anyway.

Dante's inspiration!

Bloody Hell that is tight access Bruce!

 

[GravyStain]

Talking of crawl spaces. I have two, one per beam. Those are really scary. There is only enough room to edge your way in with skewed shoulders and hips. Easy enough until you have to try and back out. I only had to go in once past the access to plumbing and cable looms in order to reach the top of the fuel tanks. Never again. That panic as you get stuck makes you break sweat!! There must be a better way than crawl spaces. Did they hire kids or something when building the boat?




View attachment 110762

I definitely am not built for that!

 

[BruceK]

They give you enough space to wedge yourself in over the top of the engines. However once the ribcage has slid over a protrusion, not enough space to slide back out. If you are slighly pear shaped like me, you have a tough time getting that six pack out past the ribcage to pop yourself out. You get one chance!

The coolant reservoir cap is a real killer!!

 

[starfire]

Unless you enjoy tinkering there is no particular need to spend time in the engine room unless there is a problem.

I do check the engine room most days for something not looking ok and the levels once a week.

i had a squadron 65. You could have a party in the engine room. My current s58 is pretty tight.

take each boat on its merits

S58 not too bad, bit of a wriggle to get down the side of the port lump to do the impeller, or work on the chillers.

Some boats are like a room in the crystal maze

 

[TonyR123]

agree with jrudge - engines, pods & geny are all serviced by main dealers. I only go into engine room to check for general checks, ie no leaks, filters ok. Other than that had to replace an impeller in the geny once and have to 'assist' the ecomar system a few times when a pump sticks. space is not bad in prestige 500 engine room, getting to pods a bit of a squeeze.

 

[vas]

I have to admit I've spent a fair amount of hours (OK make that days) in the e/r.
43ft straight six engines and NO side tanks means easy access allaround, very happy.
as time passes, I spent v.little time unless I'm adding something new down there. Last year must have only been down to have a quick glance that everything is fine and once or twice to adjust the bloody stern glands. bought PSS dripless seals so wont need to do that anymore.

twin engined sterngeared <40ft is bound to be tight, I'm amazed how ppl actually service them.
Have to remove the stbrd starter and get it for a check/clean/rebuilt as it occasionally misses engaging. Will probably take me more time to get the tools in place than removing it...

V.

 

[markc]

Yep, echo others here - type of boat makes all the difference. Current boat is very easy, lots of space to get to everything, no tanks outboard of the engines. More space = less time to fix things if there is a problem.

 

[Portofino]

Same set up as vas inline 6 s without side tanks means space either side outboard where I can sit up to attend to stuff .A Nice space in between, the engines are handed so the dip sticks are opposite.
Theres two hatches in , one with a ladder between the main tanks , under this sits the geny , almost standing room .

I do generally go in most mornings to do a simple eye ball and check on the oil levels , I,am curious of any oil usage, there seems to be none in a typical 80 hr season . Just lift a hatch and climb in from the cockpit.

The previous boat was 3.54 beam and stern drives ( all new to me being an ex yacht guy ) it was very cramped and on one occasion I had to send my son in to change a trim relay .The geny was facing the side so you needed a mirror to service it .

I kinda bit like KAshurst thought “ the next one gotta be better “ so moved ER access and serviceability from a DIY pov up into the must haves mini mental list of the next boat .

This one is 4.2 M beam and the extra 70 cm makes a huge difference.I have to climb over an engine though to access the lateral aspects , batts , charger , water heater , aircon gubbins etc .

I like going in in the morning to check over stuff .



Rear ladder in between the main tanks with the geny under , ( sorry pics rotated )



Below the hight over the engine , I have to climb over to access that reserve long range tank and charger , the space is large enough for me to sit comfortably, there are some batt boxes there too .



Shrink the beam 70 cm to 3-54 M and it’s very tight .You can stand on the bottom with a foot either side of the strainers .You can’t get between them or really lay over to reach a turbo , well you can but have to jam in the top of the engine and cockpit sole .Even changing the belts is a challenge.How ever for a proper service you have to remove the cockpit seating / table and lift the soles .
Stud up you are chest deep then .The white thing is the geny silencer .

I wanted and got one with a ladder you could climb in virtually stand up and easily get to any side of a motor .As said that was important in the decision . I can climb in one end walk between the motors and climb out of the other hatch with this .

Looked at a few inc a Magmum 40 something but it had the whole rear area on rams that lifted up and was very low ceiling so I guess you could not do a lot @ sea ?? If necessary?

 

[GravyStain]

Yep, echo others here - type of boat makes all the difference. Current boat is very easy, lots of space to get to everything, no tanks outboard of the engines. More space = less time to fix things if there is a problem.

Mark, is that because your Ferretti has the tanks inboard, ie forward of the lumps? Does it make a decent difference?

EDIT - We've discussed this before Mark, and yes, they're forward of the engines.