Good point PCP,
I will definitley be contacting Beneteau for advice (I have been advised by a reliable shipwright that Beneteau charge for providing technical construction details on their vessels....it hardly encourages a healthy secondary market for their boats if that is the case, I'll let you know if this proves correct).
If it will compromise the strength of the boat then I will not do it. However these 430 hulls are the older style, hand laid, super thick and built like the proverbial brick outhouse so there's a good chance Beneteau will say its fine when I ask.
Assuming there is no problem unless Beneteau advise otherwise, I want to get a feel from those who have done this already for issues that will not be obvious from basic structural integrity details - eg:
- Is it easier to remove all the cabin furniture and rebuild the bunk, or can you just cut the centre wall off at bunk level?
- Can you remove the centre panels without cutting?
- Any annoying rattles from the furniture or issues with the underbunk water tanks?
- Any unexpected problems or benefits?
- With the benefit of hindsight, anything you'd do differently?