Help: Prop shaft under self draining cockpit floor

[boatil]

Hi!
I am fixing up a Ballerina MkII wooden sailing boat, designed by Robert Tucker, which came with an inboard and a pitch-changing propeller. When I first got her last year the gear seemed unreliable so I got an outboard which worked very well. I have now decided to remove the inboard, which was easy enough, and I want to remove the stern tube and all the shaft mechanism. The boat has a self draining cockpit but I can't see any way to lift the floor to access the hull at the proper point. Does anyone have any experience with this design and could you suggest how to lift the cockpit floor?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, boatil.

[boatil]

Thanks!

[HappyMdRSailor]

Welcome to CF !

Hmm... This might be your only option...

[boatman61]

I used to own a Ballerina.. but a GRP one with OB.. Why don't you just remove the engine etc.. drop the rudder, pull the shaft and then blank off the hole the shaft comes through.
Meet Chindit...

[boatil]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Welcome to CF !

Hmm... This might be your only option...

I am still hoping someone might have a better idea... There is a space between 2 bulkheads under part of the cockpit which I can't get into, but I wander what else might have been put there. I am also afraid that cutting into the floor might damage the structural integrity.

[boatil]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I used to own a Ballerina.. but a GRP on with OB.. Why don't you just remove the engine etc.. drop the rudder, pull the shaft and then blank off the hole the shaft comes through.

Thanks. There is quite a bulky support for the stern tube. I was hoping to remove the whole thing to gain some storage space. What I might do, in the end, is cut everything under the boat with an angle grinder and patch up whatever is left.

[boatman61]

Rather than attack the bottom I'd go for the cockpit floor.. just leave a couple or 3 inches all round to sit then epoxy and screw the new floor on.. run timber raisers/braces at the bulkheads..

[boatil]

I will try to attach a photo of the underside showing the attachment.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Would love to see pics!

Let us know if you need help with posting methods...

[boatil]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Would love to see pics!

Let us know if you need help with posting methods...

Yes please... How do I post a photo?

[boatil]

File attached?

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by boatil

Yes please... How do I post a photo?

Originally Posted by boatil

File attached?

HA HA! You got it !!!

[HappyMdRSailor]

So let me understand...

You wanna cut a hole in a "wooden" boat hull???

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Rather than attack the bottom I'd go for the cockpit floor.. just leave a couple or 3 inches all round to sit then epoxy and screw the new floor on.. run timber raisers/braces at the bulkheads..

Glass in either aluminum plate or encapsulated plywood around the lip of the cut out floor, and through bolt it by getting a small person or a larger child to hold the nut while you bolt it snug from above. This will tie the boat and the "lid" together. If you are worried, reinforce from below if you can to a tabbed in bulkhead.

You may have to glass a better lip around the cut out unless you are very fastidious with your sawing.

Of course, another option, one which is more expensive but less destructive and labour-intensive, is to cut a square for an access hatch in the floor of this type: