H23 how to access the lazarette

[stvnm]

Hello,

I just got a 87 H23 wing keel and I am assessing what needs to be done before it can go back in the water.

Among other things, I plan to replace the transom pintles. However I could not immediately find how to access the lazarette so I can unbolt and reinforce the mount for the new pintles.
Any advice?

Besides, the lazarette appears like valuable storage space and I wonder why it does not allow easy access and if any owner modified the bulkhead on the port side so as to allow easy access.

Now, I may be missing something important, in which case any pointer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steven

 

[Kermit]

You squnch up and climb down through the open seat in the cockpit. Yep. Great storage down there. Just not easy to get there.

 

[isaksp00]

Doesn't yours have the hinged part at the aft end of the port cockpit seat? That's the way in, and if you lack any such "door" then perhaps a previous owner modified it.

 

[stvnm]

Thank you guys, I am impressed with the fast response!
Cheers,
Steven

 

[Kermit]

For once I'm not happy with something I said. I'm not convinced I spelled squnch correctly.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The lid to the rear storage is on the port cockpit seat and you can fit down into with a lot of room inside to move around. You might want to look at the information on that boat under boat information for the 23 and go to downloads to see if there is any manuals there. You can also access a lot of information on this boat from former responses on the forum as well with a specific subject matter.

 

[isaksp00]

Kermit, I'd go for "squinch"

 

[stvnm]

The lid to the rear storage is on the port cockpit seat and you can fit down into with a lot of room inside to move around. You might want to look at the information on that boat under boat information for the 23 and go to downloads to see if there is any manuals there. You can also access a lot of information on this boat from former responses on the forum as well with a specific subject matter.

Thanks to all who have responded. For some reason i was expecting an access from the cabin.
I wonder if anyone else has entertained that thought or wished that there were some sort of access from the inside.
Steven

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I would not recommend doing that as you would be modifying the bulkhead which is an integral part of the boat. I would suggest dropping that idea of trying to access the rear storage area from the cabin.

 

[Kermit]

I would not recommend doing that as you would be modifying the bulkhead which is an integral part of the boat. I would suggest dropping that idea of trying to access the rear storage area from the cabin.

I'm not even sure how you would crawl to it from the lazarette anyway. It's dang small back there. Believe me, trust Crazy Dave on this one. He knows what the heck he's talking about. You don't want to go around screwing up your boat just because someone didn't think about putting access where you would like to have it.

 

[isaksp00]

Even if there were some way to modify the bulkheads and not lose structural integrity, it would be very hard to squeeze through any opening you could possibly make. You'd have to do some mighty powerful squinching or scrunching or whatever.

If you remove your pintles, think about making one a bit shorter than the other before you re-install. I will likely do that on mine this winter. On mine, installing the rudder is a bit tricky as you must get both gudgeons on the aluminum bracket lined up at exactly the same time, which is tough while the rudder is trying to float up. I will likely grind my lower pintle down about 3/4 inch, so I can get the upper into the gudgeon a bit then position the lower and push down. But check to see if yours are actually positioned the exact same distance apart as the rudder bracket gudgeons before you do.

 

[stvnm]

Even if there were some way to modify the bulkheads and not lose structural integrity, it would be very hard to squeeze through any opening you could possibly make. You'd have to do some mighty powerful squinching or scrunching or whatever.

If you remove your pintles, think about making one a bit shorter than the other before you re-install. I will likely do that on mine this winter. On mine, installing the rudder is a bit tricky as you must get both gudgeons on the aluminum bracket lined up at exactly the same time, which is tough while the rudder is trying to float up. I will likely grind my lower pintle down about 3/4 inch, so I can get the upper into the gudgeon a bit then position the lower and push down. But check to see if yours are actually positioned the exact same distance apart as the rudder bracket gudgeons before you do.

Hi Peter,

thank you!

 

[stvnm]

I would not recommend doing that as you would be modifying the bulkhead which is an integral part of the boat. I would suggest dropping that idea of trying to access the rear storage area from the cabin.

Hi Dave, it absolutely makes sense. I got into the lazarette yesterday - the right way - and found several spots that need attention and repair.

One additional question related to space is though, why there is a unaccessible space under the galley and what is the purpose of the bigger round hole in the lower part of bulkhead (the upper is the water hose).