Heavy Salon Engine Hold Cover Modification
Hello fellow Commanders. First... disclaimer: Although we previously owned a 31' Commander Express, when we needed more room for kids and grandkids, we traded it (and lots of $) for a 58' Roamer Riviera in 2011 and remained members of CCCC. (There is a separate story about a 47' Commander we tried to acquire; but that's for another day.)
Now, our challenge: To do the pre-start checks of fluids in the engines, which are D336 Caterpillars, with have to remove the salon decks that rest close to the coolant filler caps - that is the only way we are certain there is adequate coolant in the heat exchanger reservoirs. Speed forward to current times, and after some medical events, those decks have become seemingly much heavier. We think the solution is to have an inspection porthole installed in each deck cover right over the coolant inspection caps, large enough for a man-sized hand to fit and turn that cap to remove it. Has anyone accomplished such a modification? If so, Marcia and I would very much appreciate some advice and tips on how to do it too.
Thank you. And yes, there are other inspections that are always done in the engine hold (bilge, batteries, oil levels, etc.) where there is plenty of room to do them.