Installing a access panel in to a fiberglass boat

Hi all new to this page and all things boat refurbishing. I reasonably purchased an old fiberglass fishing boat I’m planning on doing up. It is a Burwood rover custom half cabin.

there are a few things I’m hoping to know if I can do. That being an access panel in the floor.
The boat has 2 bung plugs one that is above floor level and one below. With no access panel in the floor. I was wondering if I could install one into the floor as I would like to have a bilge pump under the floor to remove any water if we got any. As this to me would be something I would prefer to kick in before it to late and realize we are taking on water. And would also be great to have a way to inspect under the floor.

 

Welcome to the Forum Ronnie.

The bilge under your cockpit sole appears to be very shallow, and I doubt that you would get a bilge pump in there.
I would be inclined to regard this bilge as a useful 'double bottom', where if the hull gets holed for any reason, the inner skin (cockpit sole) should stop the water from flooding the boat.
You could perhaps fit a bilge pump with the suction in way of the sump in your first photo above?

 

thanks for the advice bajansalior. Just confirmed I’m over think it and a bilge at the sump would be more then enough.

boat is in rough condition so I know I have some work ahead of me bring it back to life. Just don’t want any hard work to go to waste and sink the boat on its maiden voyage lol

 

Ronnie I'm wondering if you're focusing on the wrong thing? That motor is bred from 28hp's in the 1950s, and your's would have to be early 1970s, 50 years mate, and most of us wild colonial lads don't have the luxury of fresh water running. The manufacturer went bust in about 2000, and parts will be a hassle, not to mention spending 2 bob on it will exceed the value of the motor. Have a look at the Parsun 4 strokes, they aren't bad at all.

 

Thanks for this. Definitely interested at an upgrade at some point. At the moment a little project to get on the water, but I will look into them.

 

Somebody has painted the cowling and put some vinyl decals on it, so impossible to date from the lid. Do you have a model number on the transom bracket? Serial no. is irrelevant with Johnson/Evinrude, except for insurance etc.

 

I know it has been painted. I have a rough photo of the serial number. Mother has compression spark and I’m assuming the previous owner did an oil change as I checked that and it was good clean oil with no signs of metal shavings in it.

 

Probably no bearings in the gearbox anyway, a lot of them had sintered bushings. Plus the split gearcase makes resealing a breeze if necessary. They have points and condensers, and we used to use a factory tool to set each piston at the correct point. I reckon some Youtube whizz has a home built tool for setting points. Very prone to seized splines between driveshaft and crank. Give it a new impeller annually, grease relevant bits etc, splines never seize.

 

Thanks for the information mate. Could prove to be helpful