How Do You Get at Stuff in the 320 Engine Compartment

320Bob

Active Member
Nov 2, 2009
1,314
AZ
Boat Info
2012 Chaparral 267 SSX Sold
Engines
Boatless
I was up at Chicago Sea Ray yesterday to do so work on the boat and opened the engine hatch fully to familiarize myself where various maintenance items were located. As shown in the attached picture, the generator is in the vary back and my question to you guys is how does one reach its sea strainer short of having to lie on one of the engines?
 

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Well they often tease me at my Marina for being short (5 7). But it does have its advantages!
 
Seriously though, there is no easy way except by watching where you step and go carefully.

I would like to mention though when I first got the boat I was coming out of the bilge after cleaning the strainer for the A/C and generator. While climbing out my foot came in contact with something by the starboard engine starter. When I did that engine tried to start which scared the crap out of me. Of course without the key on and the switch engaged no fuel would get to the engine to allow it to fire, but it did attempt to turn over. I did post that info on the site here, and pretty much got a response like, “there is no way that should happen”. Well no way or not it did, so now I make sure my batteries are off before climbing around down there unless I need them start the generator.
 
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Sometimes it has to do with that commercial which has this word in it "Priceless Moment" or something to that affect.

I have a bit more room and for some things. It is just better for me to pay the piper. :huh: :thumbsup:
 
You will find that laying on and over the engines can become quite comfortable after a while. In fact, while winterizing my boat, I actually fell asleep while working. Well, to be honest, it didn't happen all at once. First my feet went numb and then pins and needles, then once I woke them up, my wrist followed suit, etc. etc.

I have it a little better than the space in the 320, but not by much.

:lol::lol: I actually thought you were being serious, until I got to the last sentence. I was thinking "OK, I guess a nice warm engine could do that..."

I've seen some use a piece of 2x12 to lay across the engines - might be about 3' or 4' long. I would think a piece of wrestling mat-type foam (very dense) could work nicely, too.
 
I have a huge engine room that you can stand up in and the only place that the engines have problems are those few places that are difficult to get to. There is a thin guy at the marina shop who does those things for me. I guess the answer is lose weight.
 
I will admit the first time in the bilge was overwhelming. But once you get used to it and you learn where to stand - it gets better. It still is tight.
 
:lol::lol: ...I've seen some use a piece of 2x12 to lay across the engines - might be about 3' or 4' long. I would think a piece of wrestling mat-type foam (very dense) could work nicely, too.

This was the precisely the thought that occurred to me to lay on a board stretched accross the compartment to access the generator. The other thought I had was having the French guy in MI III hold the rope like he did for the one that suspended Tom Cruise in the computer room!:grin:
 
The other thought I had was having the French guy in MI III hold the rope like he did for the one that suspended Tom Cruise in the computer room!:grin:

Extend a boom off your arch and you might be able to do that! How cool would that be!:grin: "Alright... Lower me down, I'm going in".


You mentioned "stretched across the compartment". If you do that, I don't think you'd be able to reach things easily - they'll still be kind of far away (below you). But, you can put the board on top of the risers, or anything else that's solid.

Or, possibly....... If you could make a little contraption that would allow the board to hang below the deck level, but just above the engines. The board could be just short of the length (fore - aft) of the compartment opening. With some type of hook system that would drop into the groove around the compartment. Then, allowing the board to "float" lower than the deck floor, but just above the engine.
 
That is tight and Im thinking even with ODs, it still would be tight but maybe with ODs SR moves the gene midship. Good luck.
 
Actually, you can sit on the risers and access the generator pretty nicely. i guess it depends on how tall you are but it does work. Don't put all your weight on the risers but it is pretty accessible that way. Able to change oil, filter and one of the plugs that way. Seen the mechanics doing it that way and it is pretty good.
 
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Never been in the engine room. That is what we have mechanics for. I know that at some point I will have to but am in denial.!
 
It's really not too bad once you figure out where to place your feet. I sit on the risers all the time and really have learned how to access everything fairly well. The biggest issue, is the impellers in the motors.
 
There sure is a lot of stuff in the ER of the 320 with the small blocks. That is a common problem in many cruisers. There is no way around it except to step carefully and lay on top of the engines. Always wear shoes. I cut open my foot once.

The 330 is the replacement for the 320. They addressed the engine room problem somewhat. The V-D 330 still has the generator aft of the engines. The big blocks eat up the additional space provided by the redesigned hull. I can't imagine having to do routine maintenance on the generator in that location. Despite all that, access appears to be better than the 320.

For comparison, check out the 330 engine room with I/Os.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22987&highlight=engine+room+pics+330
 
I have had the misfortune of helping out a friend several times on his 320. Once we even changed the raw water pump. The damn thing is on the bottom of the engine....it was horrible.

Also, on several occations, he has kicked or pulled on a connector, or triped a breaker, which required a technician to find because the engine would not start. This happend on more than one occasion.

This is a serious issue on that boat. If you are a do it yourself person, this may not be the boat for you, because you will be very frustrated working in there.
 
The engine impellers are the only really big issue. The generator is easy to get around.
 
Once you figure out where to place your feet. It is not bad. After owning a Bravo III - I will take a crammed bilge over the issues that people face with outdrives. If you go with outdrives the 320 bilge is roomy. It's all a trade off.
 
After owning a Bravo III - I will take a crammed bilge over the issues that people face with outdrives. If you go with outdrives the 320 bilge is roomy. It's all a trade off.
Touche' :smt043 But remember... Mike has the new and improved Mercury "SeaCore drives" that don't have any issues.:grin:
 

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