Refit Beneteau First 210

[MountainMike]

I'm doing a bit of a refit on my Beneteau First 210. I have a few jobs to do but one is the rudder and steering mechanism. I posted elsewhere in this forum about a bent pintle and that's sorted now. I removed the "shelf" which hides the rudder and steering bar mechanism so I can jump on and off the boat from the stern. It's on the trailer. Thing is, it gives a lot more space, or the impression of space in an otherwise small cockpit. I spoke to somebody about leaving it this way and redesigning the steering (dual rudders). He said that the shelf may be for loadbearing as well hiding/protecting the steering. I emailed Beneteau but got no answer. Anybody on here have any ideas?

[bil56]

you can see the transom of the boat here :
https://www.beneteau.com/fr/first-90...rst-210-spirit
this rear beam receives the axis, it is necessary ...