Honey, where are the shrunken kids?

[SoSound]

Has anyone installed a tilt davit system (or snap davit) on the swim step of a recent vintage (small) Oceanis? How is it possible to get to the area beneath and below the swim step at the transom, to secure through bolts? Did you just take the boat somewhere with no child labor laws and hire the smallest person you could find on the street, who could understand your instructions, and hold a wrench in place? Do you just take it to a boat yard and say, "Here's the boat and the parts, here's my credit card, now do the impossible!"?

I can just barely reach the far starboard swim ladder bolt through the access panel in the lazzerette. There is an interior panel on the port side which looks like it should be removable, but it seems to also be a support for the exhaust duct for my diesel heater, and I can't figure out how they ever got it in there, much less how I can get it out. I'm pretty sure that I was able to wiggle my way into and out of the transom of our First 285, but that was a few years ago, and I'm nowhere near small enough or flexible enough to pull this contortionist miracle off.

Help...

 

[Caboteur]

Yes! Did it on my 31... Weaver, were great for an AB 8 footer. I now have a Zodiac 3.0 ( 10 ft) maybe with risers; as soon as the boat heals the dinghy touches the water and resists.
Installing the bases for the Weaver davits base on the starboard side between the bases for the swim-ladder was relatively straight-forward. The port side was a bit more complicated: 1- remove the shelf boards, 2- remove the wood parts to gain access to the inside of the swim platform. Drill holes. 3- waterproof holes & davit bases with butyl tape. 4- replace wood structural section!
Two person job: you can’t tighten the nuts from below without someone holding bolts from above.
Even by american standards I’m not small: 6’ tall, 200#. It’s not a comfortable job but can be done!
Pierre

 

[All U Get]

I’ve squeezed into some tight compartments often unable to grab tools if not placed correctly in my hand by my assistant. At times I would fill a layer of pillows so I can be comfy and at the proper angle to get at the bolts and clamps. Once I used a harness hanging upside down but tied off so I wouldn’t slide all the way in. I’ve gotten stuck because a leg went numb after sitting on it for a while, so be aware.

You might need a magnet on a string if you lose a socket or wrench inside a void and can’t reach it. Nothing more annoying than hearing a screwdriver roll back and forth while you’re anchored trying to get to sleep.

 

[Caboteur]

A few pics.

While you’re at it:

30# instead of 10# propane!

Drawers in the galley!

 

[SoSound]

Nothing more annoying than hearing a screwdriver roll back and forth while you’re anchored trying to get to sleep.

Come on... I could thing of a few things...
We've been awakened twice this year by seals hopping up onto our swim step.

 

[SoSound]

A few pics...

View attachment 184306

While you’re at it:
30# instead of 10# propane!

Drawers in the galley!

Très bien, Pierre! So, it can be done!

The panel in the photo above, how is it attached to the side panel, farther outboard (below the access panel located inside the life raft locker)? Beyond the right side of your photo. I suspect that I have at least one fastener that is covered in epoxy or some other wood colored cosmetic cover-up... who knows why. I cannot get the panel in the photo to come out, it's still secured to something.

Your other photos;

The U.S. version, of the 34 at least, came with two 10# propane bottles. Each bottle lasts us at least a year. But, at least you don't have to deal with the U.S. approved propane enclosure... ​

And, sorry to say that on our boat, your drawer location is already occupied by a fridge unit with a freezer. Maybe, I shouldn't tell you about that until after you help me figure out how to get to that spot beyond the starboard portlight?​

We should have been traveling to Montreal in June, it's one of our favorite cities. We've visited there all but three of the last 15 years or so. Hopefully, next year!

 

[Caboteur]

Hello Dave,
I have to leave for the next few days... I’ll be back on wednesday, go to the boat and take pics of the outboard side of the locker. If I remember well it was difficult to get there. There are some build differences between the 31 & 34 I hope these do not stop you from attaining your goal!
If I’d had two 10# instead of the two 5# that came with the boat... the extra propane is only needed on extended trips: Bahamas (3), Chicago, Maritimes.
The 31 has a top-loading fridge & freezer, hence the space.
Pierre

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Maybe not applicable for this situation - but I have solved access problems in the past with a 4“ or 6” hole saw followed up by installing a Beckson inspection plate.

 

[SoSound]

@Captain Larry-DH, that's a good idea. Might still not completely solve the problem of the length of my reach. Would need to be careful when working, or else I might end up looking for @All U Get 's screwdriver.

 

[All U Get]

Once I had Maine Sail onboard and watched him hold his smart phone in a dark hole to snap a few pictures. A lot easier to know what you need before squeezing in.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Once I had Maine Sail onboard and watched him hold his smart phone in a dark hole to snap a few pictures. A lot easier to know what you need before squeezing in.

Always a good idea. I even do that with things I can see relatively easily. It''s amazing what you can see in a photograph, especially if you either blow it up on your phone screen or better yet stick it on a bigger screen like your laptop or desktop.

 

[BigEasy]

Has anyone installed a tilt davit system (or snap davit) on the swim step of a recent vintage (small) Oceanis? How is it possible to get to the area beneath and below the swim step at the transom, to secure through bolts?

Not sure if this applies to your boat; however, on the 343, there is a wooden rectangular inset that leads from the aft berth bulkhead, thru the transom space, to the Lewmar opening portlight on the stern. I have never removed it; however, I have been told that you can remove the wooden inset by removing the wood screws that hold it in place. This may give you enough space to access the steering quad and area under the swim platform. But then again, this may not apply to your boat.

 

[SoSound]

You can see one screw in this photo, but the two panels remain connected. There is a dark spot, a couple of inches above the obvious screw, I just have attacked it with anything to try to see if it's a cosmetic cover-up, yet. Also, the heat shield sleeve in the photo is from our Webasto heater, it's also attached back there somehow, but I think it's attached to the lower (left) panel and not the one that's open for access.

 

[BigEasy]

You can see one screw in this photo, but the two panels remain connected.

Sorry Dave, the aft portlight / bulkhead configuration on my 343 is totally different than your boat. Not any help at all.

 

[SoSound]

Even worse, there is a quick access panel inside the lazarette, which allows entry into the area beneath the swim step, but then they cut that space in two with a panel on the longitudinal axis... I guess plywood is still cheaper than additional layers of fiberglass to help keep the swim step from flexing...

 

[Caboteur]

I’m back!

If you don’t have the top screw & attachement, there might be a wood screw from behind the side-panel instead. You couldn’t see it; try taking a picture from behind the side-panel. If I remember well, the panel was lightly glued to the bottom also. Not an easy job.

 

[SoSound]

@Caboteur , thank you! Now I know that they've either screwed from the side panel, or covered up a screw in the one where you have the two anchors. I only have the bottom one. It will probably be a while before I get to this again. I'll try to remember to post an update when I do. Thanks, again!

 

[SoSound]

Even worse, there is a quick access panel inside the lazarette, which allows entry into the area beneath the swim step, but then they cut that space in two with a panel on the longitudinal axis... I guess plywood is still cheaper than additional layers of fiberglass to help keep the swim step from flexing...

I need to post a correction. There is no plywood partition inside the transom, at least not when I look at it from the port side where this problem panel is located (I think I screwed up port and starboard early on in this post too...). What I see from the port side is a large structural fiberglass element located just behind the interior finish panel in the aft berth. It may be housing the rudder stock (tube, shaft?).