[E32-3] What are those unscrewable white lids for underneath cushions

I was checking out the 32-3 I have an offer in on yesterday and noticed that behind the settee backrests, and under some other cushions and things, are what look like unscrewable lids leading to a space directly between the fiberglass liner and the hull. What are these? They don't seem like they're for storage, as the space drops straight down into who knows where. Could these be configured to store things, or would it be a condensation hellhole because of the direct hull contact?

Welcome to the Ericson group!


The enclosed areas behind each settee are pretty full of Very Heavy fiberglass layups for the shroud load-carrying rods. There is very little storage potential lost there. We have similar settee seat backs in our boat, and I removed the teak plugs over all of the screws many years ago to "check it out" as it were.
(Matter of fact I had the port side one off again last week to run a new wire to the panel, which is on the port side...)

Inside of those you will find the lower end of the Navtec SS rods threaded into some large solid bar stock aluminum that is held in place by recesses in the moldings. It is a Very strong system.
As for other places, EY used to set the screws flush in the panels that covered some areas with tanks, and then gel coat over the fastenings. Tedious to remove the screws if you ever have to replace or repair a tank, but do-able with patience.

Full disclosure - other than some offshore crewing on an E-32-3, I have not worked on one. At least not to the extent of removing fastenings.

Loren Beach said:

There is very little storage potential lost there.

Click to expand...

^^^this.

I haven't had the starboard-side apart (yet). On the port-side, I found that the port just aft of the main bulkhead gave access to the conduits used to route the antenna coax behind the dinette backrest and down to the base of the mast. Other wires (probably for the sump pump) go thru there as well.

Definitely not a place I'd use for storage...

Note that the big deck-plates under the cushions (not behind the backrest cushions, but under the seat cushions) provide access to the clean-out ports for the fresh-water tanks that are built in under those seats.



Bruce

Thanks, gentlemen. Good to know no storage is lost here. I have aspirations to liveaboard so any additional stowage is worth its volume in gold.

Is "stowage" functionally the same term as "storage", just with a speech impediment?

This forum is great, thanks for the welcome. Not sure what the etiquette is when a broker is involved but I see the current owner is a member here as well