First day fiasco

[newage1461]

Bought a 1981 H30 last Dec, and put it in the water, 200 miles away for the first time on Sat. The packing leaked like a sieve, then the bildge pump wouldn't work. BUT, I was smart enough to buy a backup Rule 800 gph pump as a backup. The trouble was, it made noise, put no water came out of it.
After a couple of hours I got the origional bildge pump to work, and it cleaned out 95% 0f the water.
Then came the leaking shaft packing. Thank god I had my son along who is about 1/2 my size and strong as an ox, but there was no way in hell he could even get close to the shaft. After a couple of hours on this, I finally went to the local Menards and bought a jig saw, and we made another opening in the port QB, through which he could just squeeze in enough to tighten the packing nut. I hope it holds out for our week cruise back to Green Bay next week!!
Now, one thing blocking his access to the shaft is a piece of 1/2 " plywood that someone wedged in vertically, that prevents access to anything in the engine compartment. It's not glasses in, and I'm not sure why it was placed there. I included a picture. Does anyone else have this piece added to theirs? And what reason would there be for it being there?

 

[Benny17441]

It is a piece for enclosing the engine compartment and attaching insulation to it (in this case gone). Can't your son lean over the engine reach down with two wrenches to tighten the packing nuts? A piece of foam over the valve cover may cushion the chest. Have to be kind of flexible to work on these boats.

 

[newage1461]

The only way over the top of the engine, is through the sink like device above the steps. I wouldn't think anyone over age 10 would fit through there. I think this board will be removed when the boat gets home. The engine won't be used while anyone is sleeping, so the noise won't be an issue.

 

[MLampner]

Since all of these boats have been worked on over the years its always hard to say catagorically this is the best way to get some place, but if access to the rear of the engine compartment is needed, I find removing the panels that make up the bulkhead between the engine and the quarterberth makes access fairly easy. On my boat that is all held in place by screws.

 

[newage1461]

Does the entire "wall" of the quarterberth unscrew and come out? I wasn't able to get a good look and jr. didn't say anything. If so, at least it will be easier to repair the hole we cut through it.

 

[MLampner]

Best I can say is it does on mine. It's a 77 and the interior is slightly different than those from about 79 on so no way to be sure but even if it didn't I would imagine it could be quickly made to with some gentle prying in the right place.

 

[John T1594]

Remove it

My previous boat was a 1980 H30. Mine boat did not have the plywood panel in your photo. Behind it was a shelf with the fuel tank towards the rear and the batteries more forward. The engine compartment also had a removable panel that separated the starboard lazarette compartment from the engine compartment. It only kept items from falling into the engine compartment.