The cure here was engine access. In the 33 access is OK but nothing to get excited about. A few winters ago after I had pulled the fuel tank out for cleaning and fabrication of a cleanout/access port I found myself staring at the inside of the 1/2 plywood panel that makes up the engine box. About a dozen or so screws later the panel was out. The cuts were made at logical break points. The section aft, which had the original lift-out panel which accessed nothing in it was replaced with two solid panels. A support ledge was fabricated of strips of 1/2 plywood and screwed to the vertical face of the bunk. In less than a minute and one screw I can get to anything in the engine compartment and work on it comfortably.

Engine Compartment, All side panels in place

Simple Wire style drawer pulls enable me to lift and pull the panel up and out. I pull this panel first to gain access to the engine cooling and head flush sea-cocks which are on either side of the prop shaft just aft of the coupling.

First Panel Removed

This panel just gives access to the top of the fuel tank. With a flashlight and mirror I can look through the port I made to get an idea of fuel condition, and, if my fuel guage and dip stick both fail, fuel level.

Second Panel Out

This was about all the access you had to the engine. I guess it was fine if you like pain working around the engine.

Original Engine Panel Removed.

The final L shaped piece wedges in and is held in place with one screw. A piece of wood about 1/2 thick was put in next to the engine bed for the panel to rest against. It mostly just maintains alignment. Its visable just behind my knee where the cable to the starter solenoid curves down.

Thats what a 3GM30F looks like in a Hunter 33. Only a wee bit cramped. Now I can get to everything on the engine. The oil filter is right there and oil changes are a breeze.

Final Panel Removed

Here the panels are laid out on my front lawn as they would be on the boat. (Yes the lawn is stone, which means less time mowing and more time sailing!) The two panels on the right here replace the one that had a small hatch in it. Teak plywood stained to match what was there, finished in polyurethane.

Panels Laid Out