1988 Sea Ray SUNDANCER - cabin partition question

[cj24]

Hello. Do the partition walls between 'dining area' and V-berth and 'kitchen' and V-berth serve an structural/support purpose? I would like to do away with the former to create a more open space along the port side.

 

[tpenfield]

You'll probably get more opinion than specific knowledge answers, unless there is a Sea Ray engineer among us. I assume you mean to gut the dinette section along the port side, keeping the kitchen along the starboard side (right?)

I'll say it will not make it any stronger, probably will weaken the boat to some extent, but who is to say by how much. :noidea: Depending on how much bulkhead you remove, you may have integrity issues with the v-Berth and mid-cabin.

There is most likely a stringer than runs along where the dinette is located, so the floor will have to stay intact.

BTW - what size Sundancer are we talking about?

 

[cj24]

It's a 268 - 27'. I am thinking that the little cupboards running along the top/inside provide some support to the upper 'deck'. I am wondering if the partition provides necessary support to those and perhaps helps the hull 'keep its shape (lateral)' to some degree... the stringers/floor won't be touched (well, other than being stepped on).