I’ve spent some time working on larger boats recently, and many of them have the cabin sole cut into removable sections giving access to the entirety of the bilge.

I should have taken a photo, but perhaps you can imagine the benefits of complete access to the floor beams, bilge corners, etc.

My question is this – has anyone cut up their sole on a 424? Is the sole a stiffening element of the boat that shouldn’t be messed with or is it okay to section out?