Engine access doghouse

[a70eliminator]

Hi, It's a pain to pull the doghouse to work on my engine, I mean it's easy to pull just slide forward, but trying to get it out of the way is when the problem happens, it's awkward and heavy, I can flip it over and kinda balances itself wedged between the seats, If I were on the lake with passengers aboard the best I could do is to just slide it back to the seats and try to work around it.

Does anyone have an engine cover that has a top hinge that swings the cover up and over the rear, or anything to that effect?
How about access panels for checking oil and P/S fluids?
My factory original engine cover is so heavy it doesn't even have a latch, it just sits in place by gravity, and it's a pain to just check the oil.

 

[oops!]

Re: Engine access doghouse

was just replying to eric green about the same thing !!!!

i hated sliding mine out too... then lifting it and balancing it on a seat while every small passenger went sat on the bow.

the only probs i see with one that swings vertical is ....

1. stress on the hinge.... that dog weighs a lot..and i dont think any hinge would hold unless you fabbed a figerglass one like im doin...

2. if it is not held up and secured the thing would come down on your carcass whilst yer bent over the motor checking for fuel flow!

im going to a different motor in mine and access to the engine is a must!!!!

im gonna glass fab a whole lift up section with braces that opens the whole compartment. the engine just sitting there... everything open....

i know a guy with a new bayliner. he has a nifty little door that he just takes off. that gives him access to minor checks and adjustments....
dont know how he gets at the starter if he needs to tho.

just food for thought
cheers
oops

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Engine access doghouse

Ok thats sound good, good luck on your build, maybe you could mock it all up with a manipulated carboard box, I think I'm going to go with the trap door route, any major work and the cover comes out. I just want to be able to check oil, look at bilge, and stuff like that that while out the family without having to pull the thing off. Mine is built heavy because it also doubles as a tanning bed when the rear seats are up.

 

[John_S]

Re: Engine access doghouse

It sounds like your doghouse is one peice. Mine is two piece. The top comes off seperate from the sides/front. To remove the bottom, the jump seats need to be removed first. When dealing with the top alone, it is not that bad. I typically check everything before passangers get onboard. Top is off for initial engine start and usually placed on dock. It would easily to slide on edge between seats.

Depending on your engine and options there could be allot of little access covers with your current approach. Engine oil, drive oil res, power steering, tilt/trim oil, fuel line, etc. If you could find a method to just do the top, it should be much cleaner.