[Blue_Heron]

Hey, Lew, I like those hinges. The ones that came on my boat are also two piece hinges, one male, one female. In other words, the pin is on one and a hole in the other. You open the box and then slide it horizontally to disengage the pins. I expect I'll be taking advantage of that feature when I have to get access to the front of the engine compartment. I'm planning to mount all my pumps and my raw water strainer there.

Connor,
The PO made a smaller engine box when it was converted to single engine. It's constructed with a structural foam core and it's strong and light. I ordered my new engine with riser extensions, so it's taller than the the one that came in the boat. I will need to modify the engine box to make it a couple inches taller, but I don't think it will add much weight.

On another note, your PMs last week got me thinking about hull flex under the cabin. So I bit the bullet and cut in a hatch like strick's in the cabin sole so I would have better access. The PO had put in flotation foam topped with a 1/4" plywood cored deck about 10" below the cabin sole. The foam was wet and the deck tabbing had delaminated from the hull on the starboard side. Hull flex may have been a factor, but the workmanship wasn't anything to write home about, so maybe it just didn't hold up.

My plan is to add a bulkhead below decks forward of my water tank. It will fall right about where your chine damage was and should provide good lateral support to the stringers. I'll post pics and details when I've got something to show for the work.

Dave