Bertram33 User Forum

my shafts are leaking and want to put new packing in. access looks horrible on the 35. cam you do it without pulling up cockpit floor?

My old large body don't fit anymore but a smaller limber guy can get in thru the engine room. But guess it depending on power as boats could differ , I have 3116 with ZF gears with dripless now but used to repack with out a problem.

quote:Originally posted by butch My old large body don't fit anymore but a smaller limber guy can get in thru the engine room. But guess it depending on power as boats could differ , I have 3116 with ZF gears with dripless now but used to repack with out a problem. have 3126cats so same block and zf also. but I'm not that small and neither is my buddy.

Does the 1980 boat have a removable cockpit floor? I think I would talk to a good boat yard and have them do the work before removing the sole.

Just about all of us have pulled the cockpit deck once or twice, it's no big deal. Just a lot of Life Seal when re-installing. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

quote:Originally posted by butch Does the 1980 boat have a removable cockpit floor? I think I would talk to a good boat yard and have them do the work before removing the sole. yup has the replaced fiberglass floor. how long does it take to remove it? hardest part of it might be the bridge ladder when I looked

Frank, last year I replaced my teak deck for the second time , about 25 years ago I decided to go teak rather than glass teck , my boat is a 1974 and had plywood with a vinyl covering . My bridge ladder was custom when I did a half tower and I had to cut it and have it welded back. I don't believe it's possible to remove the deck without removing the ladder . I built both decks in my shop so basically it a inserrt . I have helped a few guys remove fiberglass inserts some very simple some a major job, the problem is broken screws and what it's bedded in. If your 1980 boat is similar to mine a small guy may be able to work on the shaft packing by removing the ac units if they are located where the older boats are. I'll stick to my original suggestion " give this job to a reliable boat yard"

quote:Originally posted by butch Frank, last year I replaced my teak deck for the second time , about 25 years ago I decided to go teak rather than glass teck , my boat is a 1974 and had plywood with a vinyl covering . My bridge ladder was custom when I did a half tower and I had to cut it and have it welded back. I don't believe it's possible to remove the deck without removing the ladder . I built both decks in my shop so basically it a inserrt . I have helped a few guys remove fiberglass inserts some very simple some a major job, the problem is broken screws and what it's bedded in. If your 1980 boat is similar to mine a small guy may be able to work on the shaft packing by removing the ac units if they are located where the older boats are. I'll stick to my original suggestion " give this job to a reliable boat yard"and Yes ac units right out side by shaft port side basically under ladder. The wood holding them i5z not good so was thinking needed to lict deck anyway to replace plywood etc

Frank, FYI and only a suggestion,,, when you lift the deck take a good look around my boat is only a few years older and I found the plywood on the fiberglass fuel tank in bad shape I also didn't like the rudder shelf and replaced all that also.

quote:Originally posted by butch Frank, FYI and only a suggestion,,, when you lift the deck take a good look around my boat is only a few years older and I found the plywood on the fiberglass fuel tank in bad shape I also didn't like the rudder shelf and replaced all that also. Well we did it and like you said a real nightmare. Took hrs to loosen nuts.