1993 390 CMY engine access

H

hted

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
RO Number
29474
Messages
4
I am having this boat surveyed for possible purchase and we noticed that it is practically impossible to get into the space forward of the starboard engine. There are several thru-hulls and things in need of maintenance and the best I could do was get half of my body around the front of the generator.
There is a small access door under the rear dinette cushion, but it is so far above the bilge I cannot reach the seacocks.
There has to be a better way...secret escalator?
Thanks in advance.
 
I believe my 1993 350 Aft Cabin has the same layout as your 390 CPMY. I haven't found any way to get to the belts tight because of the lack of access to the front of the motor. Can't get around from the left because of the generator which can't be moved back because of the battery placement.
 
I may bne mistaken because it's been a while since I've been in one of your vintage, but isn't there a floor hatch right above the open area in front of the engines? I seem to remember opening up a hatch and getting right there at the front of the engine...again, it's been a while since I've been in one, so I may be wrong.
 
There is good access to the port engine, but the starboard engine has no convenient access to the front of the motor. There are some small access panels under the aft seat of the dinette, but I can't even reach the bilge from them. I know that it's not just me because the maintenance in this area has obviously been neglected.
I am exploring the option of disassembling the aft dinette seat in order to get in there, but that is certainly not my first choice.
Thanks again for your suggestion. Happy Motoring!
 
i've got a similar access issue to the "front" of my starboard engine. i say "front" because i've got v-drives so it's actually the back, but it's where the oil filter is. the oil filter wa originally under the engine (like the port one still is) but it would have been unreachable. it's now reachable but only if you're a masochistic contortionist. the only way i've found to change that filter is to remove both batteries and battery boxes, which sit between the engines, and shimmy between the engines on my side and then bend around the front (errrr, back) of the engine. i'm not a big guy, but my shoulders won't make it through unless i'm on my side. it's a bit claustrophobic in there, not to mention painful. can't figure out why things are designed like this. it's a maintenance item, for goodness sake.
 
Yup, my brother's 355 aft, 1995 has the same issues. Can't get to strainers, filters ,belts. Access is better on the stbd side, at leat you can see the engine . Port side hatch is under a couch that can't just be slid accross the saloon. Minor preventive maintenance is a real problem here,
 
You need to get a pivot joint installed between your wrist and your elbow on both arms.
 
hted states, "I can not reach the seacocks."
Bruce then gives a "how to" lesson which sounds like fun.
Is it safe to assume the bilge pump would keep up if you had a hose fail?
 
It is my understanding that a 1 inch hole (or broken hose), below the waterline would put much more water into the boat than
two or three 1750 gpm bilge pumps would be able to handle. My batteries are only slightly higher than the bilge pumps and would succumb after the water covered them. It is imperative that you be able to close the seacock or put a plug in the hole.
It is also very important that the thru-hull fittings be maintained properly. Something like 80% of sinkings are at the slip due to a failed fitting below the waterline.
Many owners close all of the thru-hulls when leaving the boat...but many don't.
 
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