Tool/Storage Rack space above engines???

[Seabrooke]

As I keep researching and thinking about 53 Classics for our Great Loop and Beyond adventure I find myself thinking about tools and spares and storage.

Looking at images of the walk in engine spaces of the Hatt MY designs, it seems to me that there is a significant amount of empty space above the engines that could be utilized for storage.

Most boats designs have very little space over the engines and the extra space in the full height ER's is valuable.



I'm imagining a set of racks/drawers/cupboards hanging from the deck above. If these were 2ft wide, 4 ft long, 2 1/2 ft high over each engine there would be 40 cubic ft of storage space for tools, spaces or anything that is not going to be affected by the heat in the ER.

Obviously these would need to be removable if the engines needed to be removed but so does heaps of other stuff.

Has anybody done this or is there any reason that it would not be a workable option??

 

[SKYCHENEY]

There is plenty of storage room on a 53MY without doing that.

 

[MikeP]

You could certainly do as you are thinking if you feel you need that storage space. The only thing I do that is remotely like that that is I have a large plastic box mounted on top of the intercoolers that I use for a variety of "stuff" like filters/gaskets, etc. But, of course, we all have different ideas of what we want to have on board!

Some - maybe all but I'm not sure - 53s have an under-stairs storage space in the starboard eng room which is quite handy. I made a tool cabinet out of the old LaMarche Charger case in out Star Eng room when our Outback Inverter took over the charging duties. I gutted the LaM, made a couple of shelves for it and keep the less-used tools in there.

I installed three basket-type containers on the outboard wall of the port eng room where I keep all sorts of items, including the various sealants, impellers, hose clamps, light bulbs, etc.

I don't need the type of storage you are talking about; what I would REALLY LIKE is an area for a workbench/vice/small drill press in one of the ERs but I haven't figured out a good way to do it. I probably could do it if I put the vice in one ER and the drill P in the other. I've been thinking about this for quite a while with no meaningful results!

 

[rsmith]

Anything you keep in them is going to get cooked by the radiant heat when the engines shut down

 

[MikeP]

Yeah, don't keep your pet penguins in there; your lizards and scorpions should be ok...

Actually, I keep just about anything in the ERs - including lubricants like spray cans of WD40/CorrosionX, etc which is probably NOT a recommended practice but in 10 years it has never been a problem. The highest I have ever seen the temps (I have thermometers in the ERs) is around 120F.

 

[GJH]

Sounds like something to bump your head on when working on the engines; kind of defeats some of the benefit of stand up ERs. But other than that, if you think about it, no different than boats with low overhead ERs. On my boat at least, components of the fire detection and extinguisher system were up there, and they would have to be relocated to a proper spot. Ditto some overhead lighting.

Have you evaluated how much you really expect the forward stateroom to be used? Not wanting to clutter the ERs or generator room (which I used for a lot of storage already) any further, we used the forward SR drawers and cabinets, and a fair amount of the bunks, for tool storage as well as Ann's silver and china and similar stuff. The forward shower was used to store ironing board, vacuum, Shark steam mop and misc other cleaning supplies. On the few occasions when that SR was going to have someone sleeping in it, we were able to do a little rearranging for a few days worth of stay. I have seen boats where the forward SR and shower were permanently turned into office and storage space.

Seabrooke, by the way what are those things on the shelf above the GalleyMaid head pumps?

 

[captainwjm]

I've seen OEM shelves above the engines in some boat at the Miami show a few years ago. They made a lot of sense to me and I've often thought about trying something like that on the Viking. The ones that I saw were made of a strong steel mesh and attached at the corners to grab-bars/safety rails that went sole-to-overhead around the engines. Of course, the ones I saw were in a new boat at the boat show, so I have no info. on how they worked in real life.

 

[holtcl]

Mike and others- the way to get that work bench space in a 53 is to re-power the boat. Saw a nice example of this yesterday at the Hatteras Classic rendezvous. Put in a pair of Deeres and that leaves plenty of space for storage and a work bench.



Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[rsmith]

Yeah, don't keep your pet penguins in there; your lizards and scorpions should be ok...

Actually, I keep just about anything in the ERs - including lubricants like spray cans of WD40/CorrosionX, etc which is probably NOT a recommended practice but in 10 years it has never been a problem. The highest I have ever seen the temps (I have thermometers in the ERs) is around 120F.

Don't know about your ER but if I have anything with adhesive or tape it becomes a stick gooey mess. As far as your WD40 cans blowing up, pre microwave days I used to put cans of soup on the engines for a hot lunch,never had one blow up. But then again it was in the day of real cans you opened with a church key.

 

[Artzco]

Don't know about your ER but if I have anything with adhesive or tape it becomes a stick gooey mess. As far as your WD40 cans blowing up, pre microwave days I used to put cans of soup on the engines for a hot lunch,never had one blow up. But then again it was in the day of real cans you opened with a church key.

Church Key. Now that brings back memories...

 

[rsmith]

Church Key. Now that brings back memories...

Why did hey call it a church key?

 

[Artzco]

Why did hey call it a church key?

I remember opening my first beer with one and the cans were tough. And then there was the slotted key that wound open the seam on can meats, coffee cans, etc.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchkey

 

[MikeP]

That was back in the day when bending a beer can in half with your hands was the first sign of "becoming a man" (strength wise). I was so proud the first time I could do that. A 5 year old can bend a modern AL can in half. Beer cans did not have tab openers, a "church key" was required to open them.


"Church Key" because back then the kids would go to drink illegal beers out back behind the church so as not to be seen. At least that's what I heard...

 

[jim rosenthal]

Cheryl, so for a hundred grand minimum, you get storage space above your engines? For a hundred grand you could buy another Hatteras and use it as a closet. It wouldn't even have to run. As a matter of fact, you would be better with one that didn't run- you could take out the engines altogether, sell them as cores (right!) and have yourself a nice wine cellar or two.

 

[rsmith]

That was back in the day when bending a beer can in half with your hands was the first sign of "becoming a man" (strength wise). I was so proud the first time I could do that. A 5 year old can bend a modern AL can in half. Beer cans did not have tab openers, a "church key" was required to open them.


"Church Key" because back then the kids would go to drink illegal beers out back behind the church so as not to be seen. At least that's what I heard...

Lol in Jaws Quint crushes a beer can and Dreyfus crushes a foam cup. The meaning of that's lost on the modern generation

 

[holtcl]

Jim- you're catching on to the logic - LOL!

I guess there's not a lot of logic in any of this though...

With this wind howling you are glad you're not here in the boat today.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[MikeP]

For those who don't know what a church key looks like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchkey

I see that the Wiki article gives a different reason for the term "church key" than the one I had heard. I got the definition from the "men" in the family and their friends back then; never heard a comment re monks. But I suppose it's possible...

 

[Vincentc]

At one time you also needed a church key to add oil to your engine, unless you were cool enough to have a metal spout which pierced the can and formed a pour spout which fit into the engine.

 

[Seabrooke]

what I would REALLY LIKE is an area for a workbench/vice/small drill press in one of the ERs but I haven't figured out a good way to do it. I probably could do it if I put the vice in one ER and the drill P in the other. I've been thinking about this for quite a while with no meaningful results!

Mike, a workbench was the other thing I thought would be handy. Same idea but a bench surface instead of shelving or cupboards.

If the bench were hinged it could be lifted out of the way for access to the top of the engine as required. The bench drill might pose a little more difficulty.

Anyhow, I thought I'd ask peoples opinion . The consensus of which seems to be that the storage idea is not really needed. And dangerous for storing penguins!!

I've just not been without a work space before and planning on living aboard for a couple of years I think I would miss it. I do like to have a full set of hand and power tools available for whatever needs doing.

Thanks for all the input. And for the education on church keys....

Sorry, George, I don't know what those units above the head pump are. As I don't yet own a Hatt, this was an image I saw ages ago of what looks to be a pristine engine room in a 53 Classic that was online for sale.