Removing engine bay separation divider

[Tearaway]

I'm a long time lurker but new member.

I've a 42ft steel motor boat with a inboard diesel engine under the floor.

The engine has plywood panels around it which are old and starting to rot.

Because of the panels it's very difficult to get into the compartments either side.

I'm thinking about removing them and not replacing them.

As far as I can see they're only there to reduce noise and my last boat didn't have them

Is there any reason why I should replace them?

 

[dustywings]

A photograph might help?

 

[dpb]

Do they allow you to use the space next to the engine for storage without things touching the engine?

 

[Bouba]

A fire wall is always a good idea...except when they are made of wood...can you not engineer some steel bulkheads that are easily removable for engine service ?
My plastic boat is exactly the same...the engine bay is confined by dividers that creates two large crawl spaces port and starboard that I can no longer fit through and leaves the motor in a tight space that I can’t get to the other side of.

 

[Greg2]

A fire wall is always a good idea...except when they are made of wood...can you not engineer some steel bulkheads that are easily removable for engine service ?
My plastic boat is exactly the same...the engine bay is confined by dividers that creates two large crawl spaces port and starboard that I can no longer fit through and leaves the motor in a tight space that I can’t get to the other side of.

I wouldn’t necessarily write off wood. Mass timber has an inherent resistance to fire that can be enhanced by fire retardant chemicals.
.

 

[Bouba]

I wouldn’t necessarily write off wood. Mass timber has an inherent resistance to fire that can be enhanced by fire retardant chemicals.
.

Yeah…sorry, I missed out the word ‘rotten’

 

[Tearaway]

A fire wall is always a good idea...except when they are made of wood...can you not engineer some steel bulkheads that are easily removable for engine service ?
My plastic boat is exactly the same...the engine bay is confined by dividers that creates two large crawl spaces port and starboard that I can no longer fit through and leaves the motor in a tight space that I can’t get to the other side of.

Yes, that's exactly my situation. The dividers seem to halve an already small space making it even smaller.

If I can remove them it would make the engine more accessible.

 

[Tearaway]

Do they allow you to use the space next to the engine for storage without things touching the engine?

I don't use the space for storage. It's just a crawl space to a small water tank

 

[Tearaway]

A photograph might help?

Sorry I don't have a photo