1978 43' Double Cabin

[Stevieb]

I am considering the purchase of a 43' double cabin. It has twin DD 671's. How much room is in the engine compartment for all necessary routine maintenance. Any drawbacks I should consider?

 

[ronparise]

I just bought a 1979 43 double cabin. with the same engines, Im not doing the work personally, but I am trying to get caught up with years of deferred maintenance. My mechanic tells me the engine room is tight. Here he is standing between the engines putting the Starboard cooling system back together. I suspect the tight quarters doubled the hours it to to get this done.

 

[Bill Allen]

I had a dc for about 15 years one of the reasons I sold it was i'm 65 now and I don't bend like I used to. My knees gave me hell, I could still do it but it was just a bit much. That said never had much go bad where I had to spend long periods of time down there. Their great engines but when you make a 43 foot boat with that much room topside something had to suffer it wound up being the ER. But it's just not that big a deal I had one of my oil pans changed and the engine guys didn't bitch. Everythings a trade off. Took mine from North Jersey to the keys four time round trip. A hose or two some racor issues (put drag needle gauges on) and about it. Good engines, tough boat. Good luck with her Bill

 

[Andy B]

The e- room is not bad but the floor has to be lifted to do anything a little bit of a pain if you have a lot of furniture. Gen access not great but possible.

 

[Finalee]

I had my routine to remove engine hatches down to 3 minutes per side. Access was fine for me weighing 145 . Once you get the routines down it really is fairly easy. Each time you will improve the process. The first oil change took me 2 days. Now I can do it in 4 hours.

 

[eze2bme]

On my 1979 the engine service access is acceptable for normal maintenance and fluid checks. Sure, it could be better, but it's OK with my 6-1 height and 160 weight at 66 years old.
Several things to consider: not sure when they changed the battery location to between the engines as my 1979 is, but if yours are outboard of the engines then you'll have extra "work" to check water levels not to mention changing them out. Same for generator location. On my 1979 the genny is slightly forward of the engines on the centerline. Access for checking/changing oil is OK but if you need to change the impeller it's tight as the floor above isn't a removable hatch. (On my to do list next)
Shortly after buying mine one change that I made was to hinge the outboard large engine hatch covers and cut them in half with appropriate reinforcing, and making it so that the forward most hatch opens first. In this way you can gain access to the outboard areas of the engines without having to move so much furniture. I also cut inspection "hatches" 10 inch square above each radiator cap on the heat exchangers so that I didn't have to open the large hatches to check fluid levels.
My oil changes are made easy as I have an oil change pump with manifold plumbed to both engines and genny.
Walk-in engine rooms would be great but just not practical on the 43. Actually, as I recall the original 70 foot motor yacht had similar engine access to our 43's, under the salon floor.
Good luck learning her and happy cruising! This forum is a great source of info and a huge knowledge base.

 

[rwappleton]

What everyone else says plus a few. I am 65 6 feet and 250lbs. My batteries ARE outboard and a PIA to service. I can barely fit outboard of the engines. I have moved the genset Racor and the AC sea strainer to make servicing easier.

Great boat we love ours! Welcome!!!!!

Russ Appleton
1979 #511

 

[Timeout]

I believe the 78 will have more room above to access than the 79 and newer due to no dinette. It's not an engine room but I can get at everything on all sides of my engines. When I replaced the generator, I rotated it 90 degrees to simplify servicing. No complaints here.

 

[Stevieb]

I belong to other forums for other 'toys' I own and I must say that I'm impressed with the
responses. Thank you all so much. I'm getting a clear picture of what's in store for me. I was
recently spoiled when I had the opportunity to "walk" through an engine room of a 43' Defever.
However, the 43DC Hatteras has other features that counters a walk in ER.