Custom deck mod

[Trisailor]

Has anyone out there cut open the deck in front of the passenger seat for access to the AC unit? My R27 AC just quit and access to the electrical box on top of the AC unit is not possible due to the proximity of the deck over the top of it. It's also painful to crawl through the cave to get to the AC. I've already modified the entryway step for access to the front of the engine, so cutting the fiberglass and making access is not too intimidating. Currently I don't see any structural issues; but, also don't want to introduce a new series of squeaks and rattles. Any and all thoughts/comments are appreciated.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Yes. I had the air conditioning in my 2012 R27 worked on in 2018. The shop suggested cutting a hatch. It came in handy later on. The shop also moved the electrical control box from the top of the compressor to the aft side of the compartment. The hatch does not rattle or squeak.

C

Thread 'Clearing Insect Nest From A/C Water Discharge Line- 2012 R27'

Aug 31, 2019

I got lucky yesterday.

With the boat on the trailer in my driveway, I was washing the port side hull and saw an insect fly into the air conditioning water discharge thru-hull carrying a few bits of dried grass material. I shooed him away and cleared out the bits of grass. I looked into the thru-hull, but didn’t see any evidence of a nest.

Today, I put the boat in the water. After I got the boat into the slip and shore power connected, I turned on the air conditioning. I always look to see that a good stream of water is exiting the air conditioning water thru-hull when I start the...

• CaspersCruiser
• Replies: 1
• Forum: General Technical Discussion— Ranger Tugs

 

[Specialk]

I installed a hatch on our R 27 2012 and used the largest hatch that would fit the area. It looks like it was made there. I used a hole saw on the 4 corners first, so there were no stress areas on the corners. I have found an oscillating saw with an aluminum oxide blade to be the best to cut fiberglass. I have also cut out the step at the front of the engine, which makes the access to the front of the engine easy

 

[Trisailor]

Thanks. Haven't started cutting yet. Plan is to cutout deck and use cutout as hatch. I'll probably fashion some aluminum supports for the edges and screw the cutout in place. It doesn't have to be opened very often.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Thanks. Haven't started cutting yet. Plan is to cutout deck and use cutout as hatch. I'll probably fashion some aluminum supports for the edges and screw the cutout in place. It doesn't have to be opened very often.

The air conditioning hatch on my boat just rests in the opening on the stainless edges screwed onto the cutout. It weighs more than you might think. The hatch is removed with the flush pull on the inboard side of the hatch. It does not rattle or squeak at all. It’s been in place for seven years.