Working in the engine compartment - I am getting too old for this

Before we bought our 25' Crownline we were looking at 28-30'ers but after seeing how tight the engine bays are I'm kind of glad we didn't. Ours is bad enough and being 53, 6' tall and 260lbs doesn't help.

This isn't ours but the same model and same layout. Almost identical. Our hatch 'strut' is on the other side so makes standing on that ledge by the batteries pretty difficult. We also have 3 seacocks in the floor just in front of the engine so nowhere to stand there either. >
 
How would you like to work on these 2 pigs stuffed in. Genny is on the right underneath and the left has a hot water heater. 1998 290 sundancer. Thank you sea ray for teaching your guys how to cut wire ties soo they sharp as razers.
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Sundancer said:
Blind boat yoga isn't nearly as bad with the gloves. The worst part is, at my age I might be able to reach the screw, but I don't always have the strength in those weird positions to get them all the way back in! Then you have to get a wrench on a screwdriver where you can't see it while trying to apply downward pressure turning it with a wrench.
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When I had to replace the starter on the port motor, I got down on my back. Wedged in under the motor. With one leg up on the fuel tank and the other down by the starboard motor. Got myself just where I could reach those wires. Then it happened. Went numb on my left leg, cramped in my right. This caused a back spasm. Then I couldn't get out. Finally everything went numb and I was asking God to just take me. After three hours, making peace with my maker and a nap, my wife came looking for me. My back still has spasms just opening those hatches.

I think I need to come up with a good design and stitch up a patch for those of us "into" Boat Yoga.
 
I got stuck behind the generator in my 2001 Regal 3870. Twin 7.4 v drives and the generator was install behind them, stern with the plugs facing stern.. I crawled back there to replace the three spark plugs. I got them removed and replaced, then started trying to get out and could not remember how I got in. I was by myself and definitely had a panic moment. Took me a while to figure it out but I eventually got out.

I now double check that I have my phone with me before crawling up into the engine compartment just in case.
 
At this point in the boating season with my engine overheating issue still not resolved, I would gladly pay a mechanic to take care of it for me but there aren't any. I can't get to the boat for another 2 weeks, then it'll be more time trying to fix it, and still no time on the water. That's two weeks of downtown a mechanic could be on the boat.
 
If you do your own work in the engine room, you need a set of boat specific tools with the correct sockets and extensions for each job. Also a set of correct mirrors and grabbers with magnets so you can pick up things you drop. And then, of course, you need to know what you are doing. It's worth investing in some training instead of learning on the job so you are more efficient and don't throw parts at a job hoping to find something that solves the problem. It seems like a lot of DIYSrs create more issues than they attempt to fix.
 
sbw1 said:
If you do your own work in the engine room, you need a set of boat specific tools with the correct sockets and extensions for each job. Also a set of correct mirrors and grabbers with magnets so you can pick up things you drop. And then, of course, you need to know what you are doing. It's worth investing in some training instead of learning on the job so you are more efficient and don't throw parts at a job hoping to find something that solves the problem. It seems like a lot of DIYSrs create more issues than they attempt to fix.
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My GFs brother-in-law had these when he helped me. I used them more than once.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Tel...&rps=1&sprefix=tool+magnet,aps,93&sr=8-5&th=1
 
mrsrobinson said:
I use pretty thick latex gloves, but they usually end up tearing, and my hands get sweaty on the inside. I bought a pair of nice mechanic gloves last year for just this kind of work, but ended up using them to do yard work. I forgot about them until I read this post.

I was shocked yet proud of myself while removing/reinstalling both transmission coolers I didn't drop a single tool or anything, that might be a first. While buried in there I did try cleaning out the bilge some, found some broken zip ties, sockets and plastic battery terminal caps. Some of the other stuff was unidentifiable.
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I've taken to using a piece of paracord that has two slip knots. One for my wrist and the other for the tool. The slip knot makes it VERY easy to remove one tool and exchange it for another. I have one PERMANENTLY attached to my 9/16 open/box wrench for pulling the drain plugs. That way I can remove the bolts and use the zip tie attached to it to clean the rust out of the holes.
 
Jeff Delbuono said:
How would you like to work on these 2 pigs stuffed in. Genny is on the right underneath and the left has a hot water heater. 1998 290 sundancer. Thank you sea ray for teaching your guys how to cut wire ties soo they sharp as razers.View attachment 131175
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At purchase, I’d open the hatches, my reaction….
upload_2022-7-27_17-47-26.gif
 
I'm hoping the 4th time is a charm, found a mechanic that my Marina will let in, but they can't get there until September.
 
sbw1 said:
If you do your own work in the engine room, you need a set of boat specific tools with the correct sockets and extensions for each job. Also a set of correct mirrors and grabbers with magnets so you can pick up things you drop. And then, of course, you need to know what you are doing. It's worth investing in some training instead of learning on the job so you are more efficient and don't throw parts at a job hoping to find something that solves the problem. It seems like a lot of DIYSrs create more issues than they attempt to fix.
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A common thread here to is many of us work on our boats alone and often marinas are deserted to boot when we are in the bilge so something to add to the tool box and PPE collection is a plan to be able to call for help. The obvious thing is to keep your cell phone handy as handy as possible and hope it doesn't end up falling into the deep bowels of the bilge just when you need to use it!
 
Carpediem44DB said:
A common thread here to is many of us work on our boats alone and often marinas are deserted to boot when we are in the bilge so something to add to the tool box and PPE collection is a plan to be able to call for help. The obvious thing is to keep your cell phone handy as handy as possible and hope it doesn't end up falling into the deep bowels of the bilge just when you need to use it!
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2 years ago the Fire Department was on my dock when I went down to the boat. I inquired what was going on, I was told that one of my older dock mates was working alone on his boat in the engine room. His wife got worried when he didn't come home or answer his phone. She found him deceased and called the FD.
 
Yeah I'm the first one to admit I've been on the boat by myself, crawled up in the engine compartment, and thought that was pretty stupid.
 
A related part of this topic, be careful when working in these tight spaces around your Halon bottle firing head. A local mechanic was working alone on a larger Sea Ray sport yacht and somehow snagged the actuation cable while squeezing his way between the engine and a bulkhead. The halon went off and it was all he could do to scramble out of the ER and off the boat holding his breath for dear life. It scared the crap out of him and now the first thing he does when he opens a hatch is install the lock out pin before he starts the most benign of work.
 
Hey Greg - regarding your insurance issue, ask your mechanic to get a quote on a policy and split it with him. It's probably $500 annually and maybe he can get back to your boat immediately.
 
douglee25 said:
Hey Greg - regarding your insurance issue, ask your mechanic to get a quote on a policy and split it with him. It's probably $500 annually and maybe he can get back to your boat immediately.
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I thought about that as well, thanks, didn't know it was that "cheap".
 
Carpediem44DB said:
A related part of this topic, be careful when working in these tight spaces around your Halon bottle firing head. A local mechanic was working alone on a larger Sea Ray sport yacht and somehow snagged the actuation cable while squeezing his way between the engine and a bulkhead. The halon went off and it was all he could do to scramble out of the ER and off the boat holding his breath for dear life. It scared the crap out of him and now the first thing he does when he opens a hatch is install the lock out pin before he starts the most benign of work.
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That ain’t no shat. I have a cage around the head on mine. Came close to doing the same one time. Now I tie a thick towel around it when working down there.
 
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