I have a 1997 Oceanis 381. It is geting a fresh water leak (after rain/wash down) which runs from under the cockpit, onto the liner and through to the Lazette. I suspect there is a crack or hole in the well under the steering pedestal, but to access the area properly I need to remove the false floor above it. However, this false floor is held down by the pedestal and steering mechanisms. I'm wondering if there is an easy way to remove the false floor without pulling off the entire pedestal and steering equipment? Any tricks? Or other ideas re source of the leak
Cockpit floor
- Thread starter David Syme
- Start date
- Status
Hi Dave
Not quite sure how your pedestal looks compared to mine but an easy repair may be to open the cover on the wheel side of the binnacle and run a bead of silicone around the inner edge to start with. Should the problem go away then you could consider if it is worth your while to remove the pedestal for a proper means of repair...?
Not quite sure how your pedestal looks compared to mine but an easy repair may be to open the cover on the wheel side of the binnacle and run a bead of silicone around the inner edge to start with. Should the problem go away then you could consider if it is worth your while to remove the pedestal for a proper means of repair...?
Thanks Ben
Surprisiingly it is quite dry inside the binnacle - so I doubt it's the source of the water, and I'm probably faced with the bigger job of getting to the area under the floor. I'm just not sure just how big/complex that task is (and I don't want to reach a 'point of no return').
I assume it there should be a relatively easy way to get to that area, eg in case of repairs to the steering pulleys/cables etc?
Any thoughts?
Surprisiingly it is quite dry inside the binnacle - so I doubt it's the source of the water, and I'm probably faced with the bigger job of getting to the area under the floor. I'm just not sure just how big/complex that task is (and I don't want to reach a 'point of no return').
I assume it there should be a relatively easy way to get to that area, eg in case of repairs to the steering pulleys/cables etc?
Any thoughts?
David,
Not sure this suggestion will give you access far enoug forward. I have a 1999 381. Remove the flip down helm seat (3 or 4 screws on each side) and then remove the piece that is the floor of the walk through part, also connected to the long narrow piece that extends to the cockpit drains, probably a half dozen more screws. That willl give you access to the area where the steering cables/quadrant is. A good mirror and flash light may enaby you to see far enoug forward. I can't remember, it's been a year since I went diving into that area. From that vantage point, it did look like a major effort to remove the deck piece under the pedistal.
I had lost a part down the deck drain (forgot to plug it) and was not able to flush it out. If you get that far, good idea to have a good wet dry vac handy to help clean out all the gunk that you may find down there. Also lube your steering cables per the mfg directions while you have the area open.
Please keep the forum advised of what you find, it will help if we see the same symptoms. Good luck.
PaulJ
(TAK)
Not sure this suggestion will give you access far enoug forward. I have a 1999 381. Remove the flip down helm seat (3 or 4 screws on each side) and then remove the piece that is the floor of the walk through part, also connected to the long narrow piece that extends to the cockpit drains, probably a half dozen more screws. That willl give you access to the area where the steering cables/quadrant is. A good mirror and flash light may enaby you to see far enoug forward. I can't remember, it's been a year since I went diving into that area. From that vantage point, it did look like a major effort to remove the deck piece under the pedistal.
I had lost a part down the deck drain (forgot to plug it) and was not able to flush it out. If you get that far, good idea to have a good wet dry vac handy to help clean out all the gunk that you may find down there. Also lube your steering cables per the mfg directions while you have the area open.
Please keep the forum advised of what you find, it will help if we see the same symptoms. Good luck.
PaulJ
(TAK)
Hi Paul
Sound like same fine craft as mine, but with the inaccessible steering assembly! Have tried the torch and mirror, but not really enough space to check it out. Hard to know how difficult it is to get remove the last deck piece - or more to the point - if I unbolted things whether I'd be able to ressemble them (visions of nuts disappearing into the ether!)
It may be as easy as undoing the four bolts that hold the pedestal/table unit, and leaning the whole assembly over. or maybe the bolts can be jiust be loosened and the piece slided out..
Sound like same fine craft as mine, but with the inaccessible steering assembly! Have tried the torch and mirror, but not really enough space to check it out. Hard to know how difficult it is to get remove the last deck piece - or more to the point - if I unbolted things whether I'd be able to ressemble them (visions of nuts disappearing into the ether!)
It may be as easy as undoing the four bolts that hold the pedestal/table unit, and leaning the whole assembly over. or maybe the bolts can be jiust be loosened and the piece slided out..
Just to mention - for the information of others:
I pulled off the pedestal/cockpit table unit and fixed the problem last week (in spite of the awful weather in Sydney).
The job was easier than I thought - just take off seat/ladder assembly to get to the quadrant, release the cables from the quadrant, undo the screws holding down the small floor piece aft of the steering wheel, undo the four bolts that go through to the aft cabin and lift/tilt the whole assembly off. You then have access to the sheaves/cable etc, and can unbolt the sheave housing if you need.
PS - I changed the cables while I was at it - there were some frayed bits.
I pulled off the pedestal/cockpit table unit and fixed the problem last week (in spite of the awful weather in Sydney).
The job was easier than I thought - just take off seat/ladder assembly to get to the quadrant, release the cables from the quadrant, undo the screws holding down the small floor piece aft of the steering wheel, undo the four bolts that go through to the aft cabin and lift/tilt the whole assembly off. You then have access to the sheaves/cable etc, and can unbolt the sheave housing if you need.
PS - I changed the cables while I was at it - there were some frayed bits.
- Status