Is an engine box necessary ?

[Raider Ronnie]

So say you are going to do a new build downeast, no matter what the size, is an engine box necessary ?
I got to thinking after reading a post by Travis saying "if it's a 28ft 99% it's got an engine box"
If you were going to do a new build of a 28ft boat, why not insist the builder do a step up for the wheel house, raise the sheer and if necessary raise the roof height ?

 

[jerseysportfisher]

I'd ve all for rasing the sheer and deck up to accomidate engines, also gives you more room for other ammenities and systems

 

[snowstorm]

my 28'ellis dose not have an engine box. there is a step up of a few inchs. it dosent really have enought head room for me. its only about 6'2". almost the whole floor either opens or is removeable. so it dose make it pretty easy to get at the motor and everything else.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

My 28' BHM has a flush deck, with a volvo 41 in it

 

[Frank Grimes]

Because it might be ugly. It's a subjective question--some people use a boat for a specific purpose and don't care what it looks like above the waterline. Other people turn that viewpoint upside down. Still others want a boat that can perform in rough seas, and still be pleasing to the eye....enter the prototypical Maine lobsterboat.

Sure you can build a Holland 32' without a box...but boy that would be one weird looking boat.

 

[F/V First Team]

An engine box is not a requirement - up to a certain point

If you want 200 hp you can squeeze by without an engine box, going with a larger displacement engine with the same power output however brings that box back into play. All depends on the actual physical size of the engine in the long run, but with a little imagination and a saw anything is possible

There is one 28 out there with no engine box or step I believe...

I'll need to check the archives for the photos

 

[Duke]

I would assume you would need a built down hull to lose the engine box in anything less than about 35 feet. The Dyer 29 bass boat, while technically not a Down Easter doesn't have the engine box and still manages a reasonable freeboard and sheer line. They can hide a 315 hp Yanmar in there although mine has a Volvo 41P.
Duke

 

[tunaorlater]

My Bhm had a step with a b series cummins under the deck. There wasn't a lot of head room that's for sure. If I knew then what I know now I would have raised the roof to make it better. It was the breaking point on a bunch of potential buyers.

 

[captainlarry84]

motor box

28 foot N/E boats can be a tight fit. Most have engine boxes primarily because the motors are mounted a bit far forward to get more cockpit room for commercial use. In building new construction pushing the motor back is always a good idea. You pick speed by getting the bow up. Plus you pick up a lot of room in the keel area to clear the transmission, which can be mounted lower into the boat as the keel is wider. With the motor lower you also get more stability.
Also all current diesels for 28 foot boats are inline six cylinder, which are nice a narrow and will fit without a motor box.

 

[jerseysportfisher]

To be honest, i looked at a 31jc before my bertram purchase, it had twin 6b's, interesting layout, it had a raised wheelhouse. Actually i think I talked to larry about it on noreast, the common logic was with the keel lopped off and twins in it, it defeats the purpose

 

[Field Tester]

Im trying to find a way to eliminate the box on my jc. Its gonna be tight like tuna said his bhm was. Im wondering if I should raise the roof? But that is opening up a whole new can can of worms that might be beyond my ability!!

 

[mfrench808]

Aj -28

The AJ 28 is a built down hull with no engine box. It's a nice 28 foot boat that Alan Johnson perfected over the years. I owned one for about 4 years and the boat served me well. I definetly like a bigger boat though.

 

[captainlarry84]

Once again the key is the gear you need to lose the 507 and use a ZF gear. The motor will sit much lower. The problem will then be the shaft angle. You may have to redo the wet tube at the lower angle. Redoing the shaft tube is not that hard with the motor out. They simply slip a deep set hold saw over the old tube and cut it out. Next the new tube is place in lose, the motor dropped in. The tube gets shimmed for angle and reglassed. Sounds like a lot but no that bad. When I purchased my JC that is why I went with the 320 CAT as it only called for the 506. If I went with the 375 the 507 gear would have raise my step up another 3” which would have dropped my head room in about 5’10”.
The Yanmar 370 fit very easy with the 220 A ZF gear. I redid my tube not for angle but for increased shaft size to 1.75 from the 1.5.