Ripping a new one in an Oceanis 430

[BeenJammin]

Hi All,

Ive recently bought an Oceanis 430 - the charter version with two forward cabins.

Im planning on converting this into one master cabin by ripping out the separating centre wall. Has anyone been involved in such a conversion? How do it go? any tips/warnings/suggestions/photos?

Thanks in advance,
B.

[PCP]

You should ask Beneteau or the designer, if that division is not part of the boat structure. Modern boats are light and normally almost everything is used to rigidify the boat. That division does not exist on the owners version, but you don't know if in that version there is not something that does the same job.

Regards

Paulo

[BeenJammin]

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?

[beanctr56]

Some of those boats, like the 50, are setup to remove that wall on a routine basis and expand that cabin when 2 are not needed. Maybe yours is setup that way. R

[BeenJammin]

Originally Posted by beanctr56

Some of those boats, like the 50, are setup to remove that wall on a routine basis and expand that cabin when 2 are not needed. Maybe yours is setup that way. R

Thanks beanctr,

If it was I'd feel awfully silly asking how to go about chopping the wall out with a saw

I'm definitely looking at a solid wood panel here. Fixed in hard, not going anywhere without power tools and a lump hammer. I'm trying to obtain advice from anyone who has made this modification.