Modifying teak between lazarette & port qtr birth

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cbourne200

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Dec 27, 2011
279
Oday 272 Pensacola
Has anyone modified the vertical teak panel that separates the starboard lazarette and the port quarter birth? I was to replace the fuel/water separating filter this afternoon, and got in lazarette and almost didn't get out! Working in confined space is tough if you have hip/back problems...

So I thought 'why not cut a hole (or a couple of 'hatches') in the vertical teak panel that separates the lazarette and qtr birth? Does not appear to be structural as I can see daylight at top edge... Could recover at least 3' of unused space - may even move batteries further aft and help with rainwater retention in cockpit after a rain.

Anyone done this before, or have any comments to this plan? Oh, Groco filter (that I didn't think had a filter) DOES have a filter. 'Cardboard' top looked like grainy inside of filter body, so thought it had been removed. Thought I was seeing bottom of filter casing since I had no 'convenient' fuel shut off valve and didn't realize the filter sat down in the body 3" or so... Probably could have saved myself a lot of work, expense by just replacing filter. But glad I have the Raycor with clear bottom so I can now see if water/trash is coming out of tank...

Charles
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
There should be another fuel filter directly mounted on your engine. If the groco hadn't been changed in a while you should change that one also. If the groco had been overwhelmed with water and debris it would likely allow it to pass through and the other filter is then highly suspect, especially if it got to the point where your engine shut down.
 
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cbourne200

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Dec 27, 2011
279
Oday 272 Pensacola
I'm past that Jibes. Have already bypassed tank with fuel line to new 5 gal diesel can with 2 gal new diesel and ran for a short period, before running out of fuel due to not pulling return line and placing it in new 5 gal can. Cleaned fuel pump filter and engine mounted filter, took injectors apart to blow any water/dirt out of cylinders, reassembled and ran motor, so think I'm good to go when I get the new Raycor mounted/replumbed to permanent tank. Have not gotten to point of installing Raycor (just removed Groco yesterday). When I originally looked inside Groco, saw cardboard top of filter about 3-4 " below top, and thought filter was missing. Had no fuel shutoff valve, so had to button it up quickly. There is a lot of 'crud' in the Groco - guess it did it's job...

What I'm considering doing is cutting 2 2'x2' holes in vertical teak panel so I can get hands into lazarette w/o having to stand on my head. This is on an '89 272 (forgot to mention that). Or crawling down into lazarette. Hard to get out with hip/back problems. Has anyone taken this approach? Should make much easier to reach into lazarette from qtr berth vs standing on head...
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
See if you can hire a local high school kid to crawl in there for you. For maybe 10 bucks an hour it would be worth it (cost of two lunches at McDonalds).
 
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cbourne200

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Dec 27, 2011
279
Oday 272 Pensacola
It sure would!!! There's room in there, just have a hard time trying to get from a semi sitting position leaning back against hull. Foot space is small (may try taking off shoes) - as one Dr told me/my Dad - 'Nose over Toes' if you expect to get up from a sitting position... And I don't have a lot of movement in legs to twist around. Batteries get in way of extending legs toward stern...

That's why I was considering cutting holes in vertical teak panel. Plenty of room in qtr berth...
 
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Mickstr

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Jun 1, 2007
272
O'Day 322 Mt.Sinai
I added a Racor too

I cut the last 20 inches or so of the bulkhead to enable me to get the fuel tank out of my 89 LE. I'll put it back and cover the cut with a trim piece. I added a 2nd fuel filter and 2 valves to be able to switch one to the other. Anyhow, my point is I was able to do about 80% of the work on the fuel filter while leaning down into the lazarrette. I'd avoid cutting a lot of the bulkhead..there's a fair amount of things attached to it on the lazarrette side that will have to be replaced...
Maybe find a yard mate to help with the 20%, or hire a high schooler..

here's a link to my reply to another thread with a pic of what I did... Good luck!

http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=150441&page=2
 
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