Engine Box vs Flushmount

[Captlvb]

One of the things that seems like a major decision is to get the engine mounted below the deck and get rid of that engine box. My desire is to make it easy to have a split wheelhouse (one day). How much of a pain is the engine box vs how big of a pain is the maintnence on an engine mounted flush to the deck?

Looking for feedback. Thanks guys.
Lou

 

[F/V First Team]

Biggest issue I have with everything being under my deck is that there's just too much damn room on the deck. Don't know if I should buy a bicycle to ride around on it, a scooter or just some roller skates. I think whichever I choose to get tassels are a must!

Seriously though, it's a no-brainer. Under the deck = awesome!

 

[BillD]

Biggest issue I have with everything being under my deck is that there's just too much damn room on the deck. Don't know if I should buy a bicycle to ride around on it, a scooter or just some roller skates. I think whichever I choose to get tassels are a must!

Seriously though, it's a no-brainer. Under the deck = awesome!

Then again it is at times nice to have a "box" to work off of in the boat and when it comes time for engine maintenance...well sometimes "out of sight out of mind" is not a good thing

 

[Blitzen]

On my 28WB the engine box made a great seat, nice to lay down on too when the fishin gets slow.

 

[MDI45]

Captlvb,I have a flush deck but i wouldn't mind a box if i ever build again...keeping the deck lower seems to give the boats a better look...like when they use to build 35 Duffy work boats and the 42 bruno with big engine boxes...those boats look beautiful down low...and they drift alot better then the boats that had there houses raised to fit the engine ...they get to top heavy

 

[Raider Ronnie]

My 28 BHM has an engine box.
Got a nice cushion on it and it makes a nice seat.
Makes a great place for crap to be piled on.
I would do anything to not have it !!!
Makes the wheel house tight.
The box is 3/4 plywood glassed over, inside has sound down and am guessing with lead and is gel coated white
It is heavy as hell and not fun when dropped on your foot

I'm actually thinking of making a new box using nida core to drastically lighten it up.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

My 28' BHM doesn't have a box and I love it, in fact I wouldn't own a boat that did.

 

[Captlvb]

I really lean towards not having a box to be in the way. Also really love the idea of the split wheelhouse.

How difficult is maintanence? Remote mount oil change pump? Changing engine oil, gear oil, and the fuel and oil filters? Seems like it would be a huge pain in the ass.

Also the idea that BillD made about out of sight out of mind is scary. Oil leaks would be tough to pinpoint.

 

[F/V First Team]

Depends on how you have it set up I suppose. Remote everything that isn't within easy reach, really not a problem. If you wedge the engine between narrow stringers it won't matter if you have a box, flush deck or a unicorn with a check list making sure no fluids are leaking out - it's still going to be a pain in the rear end when it comes time to fix the issue. Just because the engine is under a hatch in the deck doesn't make it any less "out of sight" than it would be under an engine box. You still need to check it out regardless.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

My 28' BHM doesn't have a box and I love it, in fact I wouldn't own a boat that did.

Got a Pic ?

 

[BillD]

My 28' BHM doesn't have a box and I love it, in fact I wouldn't own a boat that did.

Got a pic??

 

[tunaorlater]

My 28 BHM had a 250 cummins under the deck(step though). But there was only 6ft 1 innch of head room in the helm.

Most bigger boats with no box you can crawl all around them from the sides giving you more access then having a box.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

Got a pic??

I will try to tonight.

 

[tunafishhkg]

I agree that the 35 duffy looks better not raising the house and keeping center of gravity low especially with a tower. No engine box on my duffy but only 6'2" high in the corners that is ok for me but I guess if you are tall, then you would have to take comfort into the equation. Would never want an engine box, plenty of options for seating without going around the middle to get around. Side access is what counts and I do not see many builders that totally isolate the engine in its own box just to control sound or cost of using sound down, losing access to the engine. You always have hatches outboard of engine for equipment or storage anyhow giving engine access.

 

[DBM]

One of our requirments when building our boat was no engine box. I needed a hull that had enough depth and freeboard to allow a tall enough wheelhouse with enough headroom. While i love the 31 Duffy, the problem with the hull is that headroom gets real tight in both the wheel house and the cabin. We went with the RP 31 and there is a step up to the bridgedeck, but i think the boat looks great and there is more space than in any other 31 out there.

good luck,

DBM

 

[DBM]

BTW, we designed the entire bridge deck floor to hinge up so access to teh engine is impressive.

DBM