Engine cover

[rhythmsurfer]

Just curious of how the other owners of the Hunters have their engine cover secured. I am talking about the piece of decking in the cockpit that is directly above the engine just in front of the companion way. Mine has screw holes but no screws. (the screw holes are every 12 inches or so) Also, when you lift the cover, there is whats left of a silicone gasket. Here is my question: Should this cover be screwed in and sealed with some type of gasket? If the cover is sealed by screws e.t.c how do you change the oil? There doesn't seem to be enough clearance for you to put the oil in. Sorry I am at work and don't have a picture. And my biggest point....when I bought the boat the PO had not cleaned the cockpit drains and they filled up with barnacles, oysters, and dirt. Then when we had the heavy rains last fall, the seal for the engine cover failed and let all kinds of water in. THEN the float switch failed and the boat took on 8-10" of water. So this is why it is important for me to get this repaired right. Thanks

 

[Ed Schenck]

Rardi will know. But do you know that most Cherubinis do not have a cockpit engine cover? I think only one other model, maybe the H33?

 

[rardiH36]

rythmsurfer:

Give me a couple of days to respond usefully. The cockpit engine "hatch" on the Cherubini Hunter 36 is great to have for amazing engine access. However, I don't really know how Hunter expected their stock setup (whatever that initially was) to stand the test of time. I think that the PO's of my boat simply gave up with it and the seal was a mess when I bought it. As yours, just a bunch of silicone had been messed up ineffectively in the area. So one of my first projects was to modify. It now is water tight. The screw fasteners now have a more secure and strip-less method compared to just SS wood screws into the thin fiberglass layer. It takes about 2 minutes for me to remove the hatch. And about the same to reinstall it. I've done it now many dozen's of times over the 4.5 years I've owned the boat.

When I first joined SBO, a Cherubini H36 owner posted his modification of removeable hatch-plates cut into the removable hatch for quicker access to oil addition. This was before SBO's migration to the improved system a few years back. I just looked, but can't find it.

regards,

rardi

The modification isn't a real quick and easy. But well worth it.

Stand by.

 

[rhythmsurfer]

Thanks

Rardi and Ed,

Thank you. I don't know what Hunter had originally. I am waiting patiently. Once I redid the cockpit drains it really hasn't been a problem. But, before I hit the high seas or the winter/rainy season comes, I would like to make this better. Rardi if you could take a picture I would apprecciate it.
Thanks, Tony

 

[rardiH36]

Rardi and Ed,

Rardi if you could take a picture ...
Thanks, Tony

Tony:

It will be several pictures. Actually I took them yesterday, then left the camera on the boat. I've already prepared a written description of my modification steps and considerations, but will hold off posting until I have the pictures to match -- probably this evening.

regards,
rardi

 

[rardiH36]

Re: Thanks

Tony:

I've posted my modification to the cockpit hatch in a new thread with a different title, so that in the remote event someone else is looking for a some ideas, it is more likely to come up in a "search".

regards,
rardi

 

[bgrube]

Rardi will know. But do you know that most Cherubinis do not have a cockpit engine cover? I think only one other model, maybe the H33?

My 1980 H30 also has the hatch in the cockpit floor, and it needs work. I've seen Rardi's solution in another post and it looks like a future project for me, too.

 

[rhythmsurfer]

Pictures of engine cover

 

[rardiH36]

Looks pretty much same hatch arrangement as mine!

 

[SamLust]

Guaranteed the H33C has no cockpit engine hatch. You can however, with a bit of work, create complete engine access on the 33. Must be familiar with and not afraid to use Sawz-all.

 

[Steve Dion]

Hunter 30 also had an engine cover on some models (don't know what years).

It would seem that the butyl tape would be a perfect method for sealing the engine hatch. I would assume that the only time you need to remove these hatches would be to R/R the engine.

Do you need to open them to service the engine?

 

[rardiH36]

Hey Steve:

On my 1980 Hunter 36, it's not possible to add oil through the filler caps (the yellow things pictured below) without removing the hatch cover. However, the dip stick tube is pretty wide and is easily accessed -- on my boat anyway. I suppose that with a thin tubed funnel and a little patience, oil could be fed into the engine that way.

Otherwise yes, other routine engine maintenance items on my boat can be done without the engine cover off. The panel under the companionway steps can be removed for impeller changes, new oil filter, bleeding etc. And also there is a removable panel under the starboard lazerette bench which gives good access to the dipstick tube, thermostat housing, and adjustment/inspection of throttle and transmission cable connections to the engine.

But with it only taking a couple of minutes to remove and reinstall the cockpit hatch -- and the resulting unfettered access, I do remove it without much hesitation.

Now its off to the boat and onto the water. I am looking to strike out just past the Golden Gate Bridge to experience the large ocean swell forecasted to have arrived from the storm off New Zealand. Too bad, however that mid-day also corresponds to a very strong flood current. Getting out against the incoming winds will be a challenge.

rardi