So, I'm kind of stubborn and self sufficient, and prefer to be able to do things myself. I had never considered removing or re-installing my engine solo until my fuel tank fiasco. I have pulled engines before but always just taken it as a two plus person job. Tim R. showed up to help me get it out, but then went on a sailing vacation and left me home in Maine stuck working on my boat while he was off sailing....
One day while driving down the road it dawned on me that I could easily do this myself. All I needed was one more block and tackle rig.
To get my engine from the galley, up over the lip for the engine compartment, and onto the stringers, all I used was one 4X4 across the companion way, my main sheet, an old boom vang and one of the lifting block & tackles for my dinghy davits. I also used glycerin to lube the motor mounts so they slid on the engine bed stringers easily. Once the engine was in place I alternately lifed the front and back of the motor and washed the glycerin off the mounts..
All in all it took me about 25 minutes from start to finish with the most time consuming thing being the rigging of the block & tackle that pulled the motor backwards into the engine bay. I kept running out of length and finally had to bite the bullet, crawl on my back upside down, and tie the line around the rudder post. This was about a three on the difficulty scale once I thought everything through and had a plan in place. Went in like warm butter on toast. This makes future engine repairs MUCH easier!!!
Installing The Engine - Video (LINK)
One day while driving down the road it dawned on me that I could easily do this myself. All I needed was one more block and tackle rig.
To get my engine from the galley, up over the lip for the engine compartment, and onto the stringers, all I used was one 4X4 across the companion way, my main sheet, an old boom vang and one of the lifting block & tackles for my dinghy davits. I also used glycerin to lube the motor mounts so they slid on the engine bed stringers easily. Once the engine was in place I alternately lifed the front and back of the motor and washed the glycerin off the mounts..
All in all it took me about 25 minutes from start to finish with the most time consuming thing being the rigging of the block & tackle that pulled the motor backwards into the engine bay. I kept running out of length and finally had to bite the bullet, crawl on my back upside down, and tie the line around the rudder post. This was about a three on the difficulty scale once I thought everything through and had a plan in place. Went in like warm butter on toast. This makes future engine repairs MUCH easier!!!
Installing The Engine - Video (LINK)
