what's this thing in the cockpit?
 

There's this wierd 5" diameter circular clear plastic thing that's in
the bulkhead between the cabin and the cockpit under the depth finder.
I put my finger and thumb in the indentations and unscrew it and it
comes out, but it unscrews from the outside!!! Which means some dude
can come onto the boat, unscrew it and stick his arm (or whatever)
into the cabin. What the hell is this thing!!!

On 29 Oct 2004 05:11:58 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:
What do you mean a guy could reach into your boat? Is the bulkhead just a
single wall thick? If so, was there something that could have been removed from
that location and a previous owner just slapped in a service port to fill the
hole?
======================
That's what it sounds like to me also. Perhaps a piece of electronics
or a large compass was removed for some reason.

Yeah it's crazy. It's a Ranger 26 and the hole is near the
companionway. It looks like it came with the boat.. somebody said
it's for a compass and that's might be it, but I don't know of any
compasses that screw in! It's not some jury rigged thing, it's all
professionally done like it was done by the manufacturer. Yeah you
can stand in the cockpit, unscrew it and reach through the builkhead
into the cabin. Thanks very much it's freaking me out!



(Gould 0738) wrote in message ...
Normally it's a service access port. You see these installed in radar arches
and other hollow forms so that there is access to reach inside and run wires,
etc.

What do you mean a guy could reach into your boat? Is the bulkhead just a
single wall thick? If so, was there something that could have been removed from
that location and a previous owner just slapped in a service port to fill the
hole?

What kind of boat?

Is there something inside the boat, like a stove or what not......or is there a
space for such an option....that would require venting through the bulkhead?
the port could just be plugging a hole not needed when that particular boat was
commissioned.

Go to West Marine and look at the access ports. It's probably an access
port.

Maybe someone adapted a compass into the lid (not a bad idea) so it's
removable.

More likely, someone removed a compass or another instrument, and chose
to plug the hole with something that would look the most professional,
like an access port.

Don't get freaked out. If you don't like it, I'll bet the local glass
guy can patch it, for about $500.

That's why he used an access port.

You can always use it to hand beers out to the cockpit.
Jim

Glue the damn thing shut (needless, but if it makes you happy)

SuperBobo wrote:

Yeah it's crazy. It's a Ranger 26 and the hole is near the
companionway. It looks like it came with the boat.. somebody said
it's for a compass and that's might be it, but I don't know of any
compasses that screw in! It's not some jury rigged thing, it's all
professionally done like it was done by the manufacturer. Yeah you
can stand in the cockpit, unscrew it and reach through the builkhead
into the cabin. Thanks very much it's freaking me out!



(Gould 0738) wrote in message ...

Normally it's a service access port. You see these installed in radar arches
and other hollow forms so that there is access to reach inside and run wires,
etc.

What do you mean a guy could reach into your boat? Is the bulkhead just a
single wall thick? If so, was there something that could have been removed from
that location and a previous owner just slapped in a service port to fill the
hole?

What kind of boat?

Is there something inside the boat, like a stove or what not......or is there a
space for such an option....that would require venting through the bulkhead?
the port could just be plugging a hole not needed when that particular boat was
commissioned.

Yeah it's crazy. It's a Ranger 26 and the hole is near the
companionway. It looks like it came with the boat.. somebody said
it's for a compass and that's might be it,

If you're sailing without a compass, don't.
Use that hole to mount a good one.

On 29 Oct 2004 10:46:54 -0700, (SuperBobo) wrote:

somebody said
it's for a compass and that's might be it, but I don't know of any
compasses that screw in!

===================================

Compasses don't screw in, they screw on - just like the outside ring
of your little access port. Unscrew the port, unscrew the outside
ring, inspect resulting hole in bulkhead, find suitable compass to
fill hole, screw compass on, find girl friend, scr... fergit it, go
sailing

The Ranger 26 is a good sailing little boat if you prep it properly
and know what you're doing.