Barry S Gilmour
New Member
- Feb 17, 2021
- 19
- Boat Info
- 1990 Sea Ray Sun dancer
- Engines
- 2X. MCM 5.7 2x Alpha 1 Gen 1 drives
As most of you Know
The engine hatches on the earlier Sa Ray 280 sun dancers 1990 vintage ,10 foot 6 inch beam has two heavy large engine hatches.
I like to always check in the bilge for gas ,water, or problems prior to starting a trip out.
It is a Pain in the butt to lift one of these hatches.
This design also makes it difficult ,if not impossible to attach permanent seating or tables and also annoying to place anything in that area over the hatches one does not want to move.
The hatches cover cover the deck space basically the over the entire aft part of the cockpit to the transom. starboard to port ,after the rear facing starboard bench to the transom. There is a fold away seat on the transom
I understand we need good access to work on the engines but there must be some way to make mods to accommodate all these needs.
I had a Four Winns with electric hatch lifts that lifted the hatch and seating up, hinged towards the stern.
I was just wondering if anyone has developed a mod that would help mitigate this obstacle on these boats or if anyone has any work arounds without hurting the safety or sea worthiness of the boat or totally breaking the bank, other than buying a different boat.lol
I love the extra wide beam as well the boat but these hatches drive me crazy and paint me in a corner for any other seating and entertainment area improvements I want to make in this area of the boat. Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Cheers Barry
The engine hatches on the earlier Sa Ray 280 sun dancers 1990 vintage ,10 foot 6 inch beam has two heavy large engine hatches.
I like to always check in the bilge for gas ,water, or problems prior to starting a trip out.
It is a Pain in the butt to lift one of these hatches.
This design also makes it difficult ,if not impossible to attach permanent seating or tables and also annoying to place anything in that area over the hatches one does not want to move.
The hatches cover cover the deck space basically the over the entire aft part of the cockpit to the transom. starboard to port ,after the rear facing starboard bench to the transom. There is a fold away seat on the transom
I understand we need good access to work on the engines but there must be some way to make mods to accommodate all these needs.
I had a Four Winns with electric hatch lifts that lifted the hatch and seating up, hinged towards the stern.
I was just wondering if anyone has developed a mod that would help mitigate this obstacle on these boats or if anyone has any work arounds without hurting the safety or sea worthiness of the boat or totally breaking the bank, other than buying a different boat.lol
I love the extra wide beam as well the boat but these hatches drive me crazy and paint me in a corner for any other seating and entertainment area improvements I want to make in this area of the boat. Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Cheers Barry