|
|
Post by Telemachus on Feb 22, 2017 19:32:28 GMT
OK fair point however:
Valve clearances - not mentioned in the maintenance schedule, although it is something I would probably do eventually. Easy to do on our "engine in the back" trad stern boat, standing in the bedroom. Belts - easily got to from the bedroom after removing the front panel (just lifts out) Pipework, exhaust - easily seen when standing in the bedroom leaning over the engine. Cables - haven't needed adjusting yet, 2300 hrs Engine mounts and prop shaft alignment - yes slightly awkward, you have to lie on top of the engine and reach down, but how often does that have to be done? Once every 5-10 years?
So nothing there that makes me wish we had an engine room taking up space in the middle of the boat and, as a consequence, reduced headroom in the rear cabin.
Most are every couple of years - you get the feel for what your timescale will be. Ours is an utter balls ache down in the depths of the cockpit. An engine room is just that though, plonked in thd middle of a 6' corridor is stretching the term - Kris and John have engine rooms, with proper engines, I'd fabcy that, but you do point out valid shortcomings of Having a great lump of iron in the middle of a sewer tube. We've had the boat 6 years now.
I checked the valve clearances once. They were perfect so not planning to do it again for a long time.
Belts - replaced once but access is probably easier on our boat than one with an engine room since I can get full access to the front of the engine by lifting up the panel I mentioned. With engine rooms, belts are often up against a bulkhead.
Pipework and exhaust, well I see them every time I lift the board over the engine but so far, apart from plumbing in a heat exchanger for the radiators, I haven't had to "do" anything.
Engine mounts / alignment - done that once not so long after we got the boat, it became silky smooth and so far 4 years later it is no less silky smooth so I don't feel the need to do it again anytime soon.
Nope the tiny inconvenience of accessing the bits at the bottom (mounts) does not justify a lifetime of rear cabin with low headroom and substantial lost space.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mr Stabby on Feb 22, 2017 19:35:11 GMT
Here's my engine, I don't find it difficult to access.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 19:35:13 GMT
At 5' 7" headroom is rarely an issue for me  |
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Feb 22, 2017 19:35:51 GMT
OK fair point however:
Valve clearances - not mentioned in the maintenance schedule, although it is something I would probably do eventually. Easy to do on our "engine in the back" trad stern boat, standing in the bedroom. Belts - easily got to from the bedroom after removing the front panel (just lifts out) Pipework, exhaust - easily seen when standing in the bedroom leaning over the engine. Cables - haven't needed adjusting yet, 2300 hrs Engine mounts and prop shaft alignment - yes slightly awkward, you have to lie on top of the engine and reach down, but how often does that have to be done? Once every 5-10 years?
So nothing there that makes me wish we had an engine room taking up space in the middle of the boat and, as a consequence, reduced headroom in the rear cabin.
Good points, but I have to counter the 'space' issue. Yes, our engine room takes up a cabin's worth. However, is is also a good storage space for tools, gear, batteries, calorifier etc, therefore the headroom drops. We also have a vast storage space for little-used stuff under the counter, which is all free space given the absence of an egg-whisk driver. Furthermore, Mrs Loafer loves the engine room because it dries her laundry! It would't do for all to be the same. We also have a large storage space under the counter - surely the same as for you? Well OK we do lose a little bit of it since the hospital silencer intrudes on that space. But then you don't have a hospital silencer at all! Of course when you create a space, you can fill it with all sorts of stuff. But I have a pretty good tool set and lots of "stuff" in our "engine room at the back", which is about the same length as the engine.
As for drying laundry, that is what our tumble drier is for! And it means our clothes don't smell faintly of diesel and oil!
|
|
|
|
Post by loafer on Feb 22, 2017 19:36:53 GMT
At 5' 7" headroom is rarely an issue for me Ha! Short arse! You'd have no trouble moving around our 'back end', as it were. I have learned to walk around with a stoop! But I wouldn't change it. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 19:42:01 GMT
Here's my engine, I don't find it difficult to access. Look at the curvature of the persons back. It's one thing getting at stuff, it's another doing it in comfort! In case your not aware I've had all the back end of our boat apart and rebuilt it over the last 8 years - be that power train, fuel and water tanks, lockers, heating systems, electrical systems, steering and stern gear, keel bolts, you name it I've had my greasy mitts on it. I've pretty much hated every minute of being bent double down there. I'm not a hobbit, but at 5'7" and 72kg I'm not exactly big either! |
|
|
|
Post by Mr Stabby on Feb 22, 2017 19:45:52 GMT
Look at the curvature of the persons back. It's one thing getting at stuff, it's another doing it in comfort! But given that I spend maybe an hour a month on average on the engine, is that worth giving up six feet of living space for? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 19:48:13 GMT
Look at the curvature of the persons back. It's one thing getting at stuff, it's another doing it in comfort! But given that I spend maybe an hour a month on average on the engine, is that worth giving up six feet of living space for? No, I'm not an advocate of that either, all (apart from stuff like John and Kris's) have shortcomings. I love our boat but hate working on it, thankfully the frequency is slowly getting less and less as time goes on! |
|
|
|
Post by faffer on Feb 22, 2017 19:52:49 GMT
Here's my engine, I don't find it difficult to access. Look at the curvature of the persons back. It's one thing getting at stuff, it's another doing it in comfort! In case your not aware I've had all the back end of our boat apart and rebuilt it over the last 8 years - be that power train, fuel and water tanks, lockers, heating systems, electrical systems, steering and stern gear, keel bolts, you name it I've had my greasy mitts on it. I've pretty much hated every minute of being bent double down there. I'm not a hobbit, but at 5'7" and 72kg I'm not exactly big either!ok short arse skinny git stop bragging. i am 5`6" and 80kg its my job i reckon that does it. You can sleep under the rear deck when you come up and act as bilge boy  plenty of room |
|
|
|
Post by faffer on Feb 22, 2017 19:54:25 GMT
Look at the curvature of the persons back. It's one thing getting at stuff, it's another doing it in comfort! But given that I spend maybe an hour a month on average on the engine, is that worth giving up six feet of living space for? its worth walking upright though |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2017 20:58:53 GMT
Look at the curvature of the persons back. It's one thing getting at stuff, it's another doing it in comfort! In case your not aware I've had all the back end of our boat apart and rebuilt it over the last 8 years - be that power train, fuel and water tanks, lockers, heating systems, electrical systems, steering and stern gear, keel bolts, you name it I've had my greasy mitts on it. I've pretty much hated every minute of being bent double down there. I'm not a hobbit, but at 5'7" and 72kg I'm not exactly big either!ok short arse skinny git stop bragging. i am 5`6" and 80kg its my job i reckon that does it. You can sleep under the rear deck when you come up and act as bilge boy plenty of room You and I would make good submariners! |
|
plenty of room 