I extended the reinforcement as far in as I did to give me some real estate to mount the trim pumps and tab pumps in an accessible location. Now I need some input on a bilge blower and bilge pump. I was thinking I'd run a Jabso diaphragm pump remote mounted up on the center stringer near the front of the engine compartment with the pick up down in back. Is there a better option? Same with the Blower anything I should look for or stay away from? I am trying to keep everything as accessible and serviceable as possible in the tight space while adding 4 pumps (Trim/Tabs), 2 sea strainers, and closed cooling. I also want to remote mount the oil filters up front as we'll. There is definitely 10 Lbs of stuff in a 5 Lb bag... I can't even imagine 2 big blocks or a sport deck without the extra height.

Always use two blowers and pumps...better safe that sorry. Bud

Cut the stringer replacement pieces and the reinforcements as well

Down the road you are going to be very glade you have that big access to the engine bay. After helping Bill with Short Circuit that still has a full back seat this is the only way to go.

I'm already happy just crawling into the bilge to replace the transom and reinforce the stringers made it worthwhile. I am really contemplating mounting the batteries in the very front of the engine compartment right behind the fuel Tank bulkhead and under the cockpit sole. They may be a little hard to access there but it would free up a lot of room in the engine compartment while utilizing some wasted space.

Why not put them inside of the side stringers, if they fit . If they are not installed you could move them a little bit. Also for Magnum force we kept the full seat in the back and hinged it forward exposing pumps and batteries which have diamond cut steel plates over them. This allows for some were to step on something [ATTACH=CONFIG]529912[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]529913[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]529914[/ATTACH] flat. I will try to get some better shots. Bud

I'll get a picture of the space I'm talking about tomorrow. It's basically just in front of and under the pumps in your pic.

My batteries on Magnum Force are between pumps an engines, with diamond plate covers on them so you have a place to stand. In order to get pictures need to get it out of storage uncover it and take photos. I may not get to it for a while. Bud

Bud,this is the area I was talking about, its about 10" deep from the bulkhead to the front wall of the engine compartment and completely empty. I figure a battery box mounted to each side of the stringer would be great, it would keep the batteries out of the way. My only concern is if I ever had to jump start it, but the odds of both batteries going dead at the same time are pretty nil. I will wire in a parallel switch like it had start so I can tie both batteries together momentarily.



I also glassed in the scarfed in pieces of the stringers, plugged the 4" holes for the bilge vents in the outer stringers yesterday, and core bonded the reinforcements today:

The 4" holes are for the fume hoses placement so they will be able to exit accumulated fumes. You also need some holes in the side stringer so you will be able to drain water to lowest point in the hull so it can be extracted.
On the battery I would just run extra cables to a 2nd set of posts that are reachable.