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Teak Cockpit Well Trim

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  • February 03, 2012 6:06 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 815713 on 814610
    Anonymous member
    Mike Green wrote:

    Gary,

    I am considering converting my fixed cockpit well into one that is removable.

    (thread http://westsail.org/intheyardforum?mode=MessageList&eid=798100#805852 )

    I see you already have that set up and I would be grateful of your opinion on whether or not it opens up enough extra room below to warrant the effort. I should note that I would like to eliminate the floor hatch all together and rely entirely on removing the cockpit well for any exterior engine access.

    It may be better 'Netiquette' to respond on the thread above as this thread started out discussing teak trim and I don't want to be accused of piracy, especially on a boat forum!

    Mike, personally I don't think its worth it unless you plan on replacing the engine and tanks. I'm 6'3" and have crawled into the engine space and perched on the left of the engine to work on hoses, but have found that the best way to work in there is to put a cushion on the top of the engine and then just use it as something to lie on. 
  • February 04, 2012 4:05 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 815862 on 807082
    Anonymous member
    Mike Green wrote:

    Gary,

    I am considering converting my fixed cockpit well into one that is removable.

    (thread http://westsail.org/intheyardforum?mode=MessageList&eid=798100#805852 )

    I see you already have that set up and I would be grateful of your opinion on whether or not it opens up enough extra room below to warrant the effort. I should note that I would like to eliminate the floor hatch all together and rely entirely on removing the cockpit well for any exterior engine access.

    It may be better 'Netiquette' to respond on the thread above as this thread started out discussing teak trim and I don't want to be accused of piracy, especially on a boat forum!



    Mike,

    I'm afraid I'd have to agree with Gary, While I do see limited advantages to the removable well (for the purpose of pulling the engine or tanks), I would never consider going to that configuration just for day to day ease of access.

    I started this thread as well as Engine Access Made Easier, so don't worry about the thread piracy. I started both in order to share some ideas that have made my own work in the yard infinitely easier. Based on the direction this thread regarding teak trim has taken, the topic of engine access is clearly one that has plagued many other W32 owners.

    There are always multiple solutions to any given problem. Others have expressed alternate ideas of good merit that have worked for them. Some of these where quite innovative and many were approached differently, due simply to differences in circumstances. Gary has found ways to work around his older style cockpit quite effectively. But, don't expect that he would ever a boat with the newer style well into the older style, simply for access. He simply works effectively with what he has.

    I haven't personally seen a boat firsthand that had the older style (though there may be one or more in the yard). I perceive that, once removed, it would provide better access to the tanks and/or engine removal. Other than limited two somewhat limited circumstances, however, I can't imagine that it would greatly enhance access. That said, I would be that access to my engine is currently much easier on a day-to-day basis. Even with the hatch in place, but unfastened (as is the case when doing an extended project), it takes me 30 seconds to remove the hatch, step into the engine room and sit down in front of the engine. Once there, I sit on a very comfortable seat, with solid flat footing beneath me. I've crawled into the engine compartment of at least a dozen boats of similar or larger size here in the yard to lend a hand. They were all such an incredible pain that I can't imagine how the owners live with it. While accessing the engine in my boat is a far cry fro walking into the engine room of a W42 (which I have done), it beats the heck out of the vast majority of all boats in this size range. Owners of the aforementioned boats would give their right arm for the ability to convert theirs into something as workable.

    I had hoped that the photos would sufficiently depict the ease of access. But 2-dimensional photos apparently lack this ability. I would really like to save you the effort and expense of making a conversion that you're sure to regret. I'm a bit busy on work yard projects right now, but I'll take some time over the weekend to clear out enough of my work clutter to take a video that will show just how easy it is to ingress/egress with these modifications. If my 6' 4" yard buddy is around, I'll take shots of him doing the same (since I'm only 5'10"). I'll also take video illustrating my adaptation of the divider into an engine-top rest. If you still think it's worth the work and expense to turn your cockpit into an earlier version, I wish you the best of luck with the endeavor. Please share your experiences.

    Jack

    PS: It would be really nice to hear Bud's opinion on this topic, since he was no doubt involved in the decision to change the cockpit configuration back in the day.
    Last modified: February 04, 2012 5:59 AM | Anonymous member
  • February 07, 2012 3:43 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 818715 on 807082
    Anonymous member

    When I went to work for Westsail back in 1972 (can you believe that was 40 years ago) to build the first four Westsail boats, I inhereted the deck mold that was made by Larry Kendall for Westsail.  He chose to have a separate cockpit mold that sat on flanges fastened to the hole in the deck, and the need to fasten a piece of wood to the top edge of the hull for a sheer clamp to fasten down the deck..

    We made the next deck and hull mold after about 100 boats to replace this first one as it was getting very tired and required gelcoat repairs on each part.  We also wanted a better hull to deck joint.  That is when we came up with the fiberglass flange as part of the hull to fasten down the deck, a cockpit as part of the deck with a removable floor in it, and a few other improvements to make the boat better and easier to build.

    A third change was made in 1977, with a deck that had more camber to the coachroof, a skylight hatch on the cabintop, a cockpit seat locker, flush lazarette hatch, a better main companionway hatch, and different stanchions and their method of attachment.  I had already left Westsail, so I was not part of that last change.  The hull was also molded in one piece, rather then two, and the prop aperature was also faired for better water flow.

    Now you know the rest of the story.

     

     
  • February 07, 2012 5:12 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 818765 on 807082
    Anonymous member
    Thanks for the insight, Bud. I think many of us tend to think that a Westsail is a Westsail is a Westsail... at least as far as the 32 goes. Perhaps that's because there were so many built in a relatively short timeframe. I frequently notice slight variations from one to another in the photos posted online. Typically, I assume the differences are due to owner mods. It's always interesting to hear the rest of the story.

    Jack
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