Save-A-Boat - The Forum for Plastic Classic Rebuilds!

Having almost reached the point of giving up this old boat nonsense because I'm tired of playing mechanic when I should be sailing, I started wondering: what sailboats have REALLY good engine access? I mean the kind where you can rebuild the damn thing sitting in some exotic anchorage.
My Tartan 27 has ok access for a boat its size, but of course, all the parts I've been dealing with lately are still a real pain to get at. And forget about the stuffing box altogether.
In the midst of sailorly cursing spells, with wrench in bleeding hand, I find myself grunting "I SWEAR my next boat, if there is one, will have 100% contortion-free engine access!".
The only boats I currently know of (because they're cousinships) are the Tartan 34C and Tartan 30, both of which have the engine in the middle of the salon hiding under a removable partial bunk.
Can anyone point out others for the "next boat" list? Let's say arbitrarily under 45 feet. Over that and poor engine access is inexcusable on the builder's part.

And yeah, I know, "shoulda repowered with the Yanmar I quoted for you instead of that Atomic bomb", as the marina guys keep reminding me.

Tartan 34


Tartan 30

Wow, you could winterize that Tartan 34 while laying in bed! Sweet!

I can't offer any advice for boats with good engine access, however, I can advise you that the Alberg 30 won't fit your requirements. :-D

This is on a custom Peterson 34




(hard to beat an outboard for accessibility)

Want good engine access on any boat?

Buy a project boat, and rebuild the interior--and the engine access-- to suit your requirements. It doesn't take much extra room to increase the access appreciably. Typically, though, it would require a pretty major rebuild of the interior on most boats--all well and good if you want to do that.

Unfortunately, most boats have similar engine access problems. Most buyers don't want to be reminded of the presence of their engines very much, and it might (gasp!) intrude on that precious interior space. Since the market demands maximum space inside, the engine and systems get relegated to the tightest compartment in the boat.

The Tartans are unique in their engine placement. I think it works better on the 34C than on the 30, myself. Unfortunately, this is a rarity, and other than some of the older Catalinas that had an engine inside the galley island (and not as accessible as the T34C), I don't know of any production boats with this sort of access.

Catamount - are those batteries temporary ?

Some versions of the Catalina 30 have access similar to the T30.

Buy a project boat, and rebuild the interior

Catamount's P34 reminds me that there are a lot of club racers out there with interiors so stripped down that the cabin practically IS just a garage for the auxiliary and sails! Probably not a bad starting point for my next project boat (w/ dreamy access).
Don Moyer often mentions the midship engine of the Catalina 30, but I couldn't find any good photos of it on yacthworld so, as Tim suggests, it's probably not as accessible as I'd like.

Tim wrote:Buy a project boat, and rebuild the interior--and the engine access-- to suit your requirements.

Like the man said:

The Catalina 30 engine access is pretty good. The engine is located beneath the U-shaped settee, low and near the centerline. Top access is great and side access is reasonable. You pay for this with a loud cabin when motoring. Which is OK with me as I'll be on deck in those circumstances, regardless of weather. I'll turn green as a pickle if I'm below with a running diesel.

Best photo I could find with a quick search


Other boats with good engine access that come to mind are the J30 and the Island Packets around 40 feet. The J30's companionway steps are molded fiberglass and they form a large part of the engine surround. When the steps are removed, it's easy to get to the top, front, and sides.

The Island Packet has similar front access and the rear and side of the engine can be reached through a large access panel in the aft cabin.

Mark.Wilme wrote:Catamount - are those batteries temporary ?

Nope. They just sit in plastic battery boxes on those platforms with a strap wrapped around them, nestled up against the engine box.

My surveyor did think that was a little sketchy and recommended "Devise better means to secure the battery boxes in place." So I added fiddles to the platforms on which the batteries sit (this photo was taken before that, note also that the covers are off the boxes as we were attempting to charge the batteries). I expect to be constructing "built-in" battery boxes when I get around to working more on the interior systems -- perhaps re-locating them in the process.

A friend has a Downeast 32 - only 32 footer I've seen with an engine room you can climb into! It's not all that wide, but you can actually step over the engine and hang out behind it...

Link to Downeast 32 on Yachtworld

I thought ABYC had recommendations on battery installation including tie downs and either covers or at least positive terminal protection - Tim should know more.

Probably not your cup of tea but the engine access on my Beneteau is pretty good - the entire front lifts / swings off. There is a 30" x 24" removable panel on each side. There are 12" x 30" panels on each side at the back and then there are two 15" diameter circles that lift out above it to allow light in as well as hands etc. Plus there is actually some room around the engine that I am not used to. Nothing like your picture of course but then it's not in the middle of my cabin either.

Like the man said:

Wow, MikeD, now that's more like it! That's on an Ariel? Good on ya.
And is that yellow heavy gauge battery cable I see, not the usual black? You must be ABYC poster boy of the month.

That is a legitimate engine "room" on that Downeast 32. Actually, on 2nd viewing, that's just a lot of boat in 32'. 11' beam.
Turns out the S&S 34 also has a midship engine.

If I am not mistaken (and given I studied those photos before putting a vetus in our elite32 I don't think I am) Mikes photo is of "The Daysailors" Vetus installation not an Ariel and we can all guess who used yellow battery cable, can't we ?

M

Mark.Wilme wrote:I thought ABYC had recommendations on battery installation including tie downs and either covers or at least positive terminal protection

I've got tie downs and covers, believe me! You just don't see them in the photo, because to gain access to the batteries to temporarily attach a portable charger's alligator clips, you've got to undo the tie down straps and remove the covers. ...

I believe you Tim.

DUH! Egg on my face.
Ya know, the immaculate grey Bilgekote screamed out "Tim", but I just misconstrued the post and assumed Mike was referring to himself. Upgrade to ABYC lifetime achievement award.

Yes, J30 goes right up there in the dreaminess hierarchy.

FloatingMoneyPit wrote:J30 goes right up there in the dreaminess hierarchy.

Well, maybe for engine access, but hardly otherwise! :<)

FWIW, those fiberglass engine/step boxes on the J/30 are a real pain to move around--heavy and bulky. But once you move it, the access is excellent, for sure.

For really good engine access, I suggest buying either a recycled grand prix IOR racer (which typically have nothing in the interior, and the engine is right out in the open with a flimsy box as a cover--along with the toilet right out there in the open...), or a working lobster boat (many of which place the engine forward inside the cabin, and wide open on all sides).

Never mind the potential shortcomings of either of these as a cruising sailboat!

My friend's Seafarer 30 (the 1980's version) has that J30-ish engine access configuration, and could be argued as a much better cruising boat.

FloatingMoneyPit wrote:You must be ABYC poster boy of the month.

Heh! I wish that were my engine room! The "poster boy" honor is Tim L.'s honor alone. It is Daysailor's engine room. Sorry, I thought it was clear.

BTW, note that his is the only example of a boat less than 30 feet with good engine access though. Of course he had to gut it and build what he wanted, but still, pretty darn impressive, if you ask me!

Here's a cruiser that has relatively good engine access. I don't know that it's dreamy, but it's certainly better than most - especially with a removable cockpit sole.

Westsail 32

Mark.Wilme wrote:we can all guess who used yellow battery cable, can't we ?

I did!

pfft!

Boateges don't count!

Double Pfft! My wiring was done before the daysailor!

;-P ;-P (That's your double pfft!)

Do I need to separate you two?

Just wait till the scouting party!

Take a look at the Westsail 42. It has an engine ROOM! Or to be nautical.

You really want to see a nice engine compartment? Rent a copy of Captain Ron. ;) Talk about space utilization...

How about this engine access for a Triton?? Made possible by a removable galley. It was posted recently on the Triton list. Very nice!

Sandpiper, Triton 129, After Salon

Yep, the good old days...

Well, since we're sharing barebones interior pictures:

(Of course, this YSB12 is long gone.)