Would a boat with very poor engine compartment access be a deal breaker for you?

dtfeld said:
As a DIY type, that 34’ would be a tough sell, that’s not tight that’s impossible to work around. However, if your willing to have some things done by a mechanic, I wouldn’t say no.

The 37 is better and I’m a fan of the Cruisers boats. A dock neighbor has a 37 and it’s a great boat.

However, it isn’t a Sea Ray! :p
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You can say that again!
 
b_arrington said:
Holy shit, that 34 engine room is tight. That would be a no for me. I don’t know how you check things, let get access to service the engines.

But consider that I’m used to a much more spacious layout. These are pics of my last 3 engine rooms: a 270 AJ, a Back Cove 34, and a Back Cove 37. The 37 also has a separate
mechanical space to service things like the HW tank, waster tank, inverter, water filter, and AC pump.

View attachment 114628

View attachment 114627

View attachment 114626
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Wins my vote for cleanest engine compartment of the year, wow, I am impressed.
 
I've been reading posts about the 340's engine access on the Cruisers Yachts forum. Seems you can remove the benches/entire floor in about 20 mins, safely with 2 people to lift it out of the boat. Some use chords and such to strap it and hold it up. Some state their mechanic will not work on the boat because of the lack of access, those that do sometimes charge more.

I am not doing all that to check/clean a strainer, winterize, check for a leak, etc.

I made an offer on the 370 this morning: https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2004-cruisers-yachts-370-express-8001200/

I like the layout overall, a little bigger than I want, but I will not have to worry about 2 footitis, and I can get around the engines/genny. Heck, I can sleep in the engine compartment in front of the engines, behind the genny :)
 
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mrsrobinson said:
Wins my vote for cleanest engine compartment of the year, wow, I am impressed.
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I didn’t think about it too much when in got the 270 AJ, but it was a dream to work on. Never got complaints from my mechanic.

Engine layout / access was a significant factor in the BC 34 and 37 and definitely played into my decision. Like you, I knew going into this 2 boats I would be doing a lot of my own work and wanted good access.

I think you’re right to be concerned with access in that 34 Cruisers.
 
If you are a diy’r …. Hell no pass on the tight squeeze…. If you outsource service prepare for extra hour charges

this engine room frustrates me sometimes

CAFA19A0-40C7-4B65-B438-DA55103D1B8D.jpeg
 
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I think what some folks are missing is "on the water DIY service". For example, replace a raw water impeller, clean out a blocked strainer, jump in to figure out why something is not working, etc. I heard a noise, what is it? I smell something, what is it? I see raw water moving in the bilge, what is it? Engine shut down, why? Alarm came on, why?

This is equally, if not more important to me.
 
mrsrobinson said:
I think what some folks are missing is "on the water DIY service". For example, replace a raw water impeller, clean out a blocked strainer, jump in to figure out why something is not working, etc. I heard a noise, what is it? I smell something, what is it? I see raw water moving in the bilge, what is it? Engine shut down, why? Alarm came on, why?

This is equally, if not more important to me.
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I don’t think recent boats where built with that in mind. :)
 
But isn't it al
mrsrobinson said:
I think what some folks are missing is "on the water DIY service". For example, replace a raw water impeller, clean out a blocked strainer, jump in to figure out why something is not working, etc. I heard a noise, what is it? I smell something, what is it? I see raw water moving in the bilge, what is it? Engine shut down, why? Alarm came on, why?

This is equally, if not more important to me.
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Buy a Sea Ray and you'll have a lower probability of needing to do "on the water DIY"! ha...only kidding...only kidding...
 
That is one of the worst bilge access designs I've ever seen. I have no idea how a bunch of engineers looked at those drawings and went, yeah.....that ought to work. Crazy. I might just save the picture for some future reference.
 
copb8tx said:
That is one of the worst bilge access designs I've ever seen. I have no idea how a bunch of engineers looked at those drawings and went, yeah.....that ought to work. Crazy. I might just save the picture for some future reference.
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Chances are, they didn't. Bean counters Trump engineers every time.

Edit: I didn't just turn this thread political too did I? Lol
 
techmitch said:
Chances are, they didn't. Bean counters Trump engineers every time.

Edit: I didn't just turn this thread political too did I? Lol
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Ohh sheesh...there's no way finance weighed in on this. That seems a bit silly to suggest. If it were up to them they'd put 2.5L 4 cylinders in the 340 and you'd have all the room you needed...and they'd spend less making 'em.

It seems more likely that the naval architect is designing a hull to get max performance for the size. Once they design the hull, and it checks out, they turn to the propulsion engineering team and say "now make it go" and "here's how much room you get to work with".

I'd actually bet a cheese burger or two that the team that has to make those engines fit (from a design standpoint) reacted more violently than we do the first time they were asked to jam two big blocks into that engine room.
 
Damn @Blueone that's tight for as big of a boat you have. I'm a DIY'r and love the room I have. I can remove the seat / storage above the starboard motor if I need to, but haven't needed to yet.

2021-09-11 15.27.24.jpg


Good move on the 370, the extra feet will be well worth it! Personally I'm not a fan of the separate throttle / shifters, which limited my search to just a few models when we bought our current boat.
 
Did anyone notice the little spinny thing in the floor, next to the side of the hatch, on the port side of the 340? Guess what's under there when you spin it off? The top of the antifreeze reservoir.
 
If you are too big to fit in there many techs will also be too big. Extra billable hours for the person who does the service and no way to check the work. No point in bringing any spares as you would not be able to install them. Then how about routine stuff like holding tank filter, draining the water heater in the fall, cleaning strainers, checking fluid levels? The name on the transom should be “Deal Breaker”.
 
Friend of mine owners an elevator company. His nephew works there and is tiny but works like a giant. When stuff gets tight they call out to go get the spider monkey or mr. racoon hands. Every marina service shop needs a spider monkey.
 
I've always been of the mind that boat builders (auto & truck too) pack those items in there so tight that "owners" will not be able to work on them and therefore return them to professional manufacture or dealership mechanics, which makes since from a business standpoint. BUT make absolutely zero since from a boaters perspective. True boaters who spend time on the water know they have to be able to access the mechanical spaces to troubleshot and repair just to limp home if nothing else.

I really like that 370 cockpit layout with the stair going down the port side and separate helm seating area, not sure I've ever seen that before. Best of luck with the new boat.
 
My 330DA was an absolute nightmare to try to work on. I gave more service work to the mechanics that I wanted to because of that. Literally as soon as I opened the engine compartment on that 340 I knew I couldn't do it but I was trying to convince myself I could.

Offer has been made on the 370, now it's time to do the back and forth dance. I'm working with a buyer's broker, so that makes it easier.
 
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