Making hatch to cockpit floor

Ilmava sitloodan pohja

Since the power line had a thrust bearing on the propeller shaft, I decided to make a hatch to the bottom of the cockpit.

Without the big hole in the bottom of the cockpit, there should have been a renovation in the tipping position at the end of the engine room which didn’t sound fascinating and practically nothing would have come of it. That place is just below cockpit. In addition to the support of the thrust bearing, more work came in quite briskly, as can be seen from this spring’s stories. The size of the hole, ie about 80 cm x 1 m, is shown here. The size of the hole was influenced by the fact that at some point the intention is to lift the engine out for overhaul and the lifting is quite easy through this hole.

Here the hole is made but it’s frame i.e. the beams are missing. Yes, contrary to my habits, several works were underway at the same time, i.e. this renovation of the cockpit base, and in addition at least the replacement of the bushings and the support of the propeller shaft thrust bearing to the frame and only one person working. Fortunately, the transverse beams of the frame did not have to be made, they were ready. The longitudinal beams were missing so of course therefore was no load-bearing frame. So it had to be made so that the floor of the cockpit would be strong enough even though there was a big hole in the middle.

I made the beams of the hatch frame from white oak, here is a piece of raw material. It was conveniently found in the garage, so there was no need to start picking it up from some lumber shop. it was left over from Johanna’s deck project. There is now one piece of wood less in the garage, 2194 pieces left :)

Oak to work with

Ja alla kaksi sopivan mittaista aihiota höylättynä ja hiottuna mutta ei vielä sovitettuna.

Work done

And here the installation in progress

So the frame is already finished and the new plywood on the bottom of the cockpit is screwed on and painted with Betolux. The frame became commendably good, the base does not nibble or squeek. In addition, there are teak grilles on top of the hatch, which are missing from this picture. The hatch is upright at the top of the image. The hatch was made from 12mm plywood, the same as the new cockpit base. The hatch was glued with epoxy stiffeners from the same plywood to reinforce it as 12mm plywood would bent quite briskly when 100kg stands in the middle of it.