Moving engine into the cabin

[sanibel sailor]

Repowering. Standard monohull configuration with engine behind the companionway steps. Got the engine disconnected, off the mounts and slid forward on the beds. I have pulled starter, alternator and water pump to lighten it a bit, transmission is next.
I have a hoist available to take it out the companionway.

Now I need some tips and tricks to get it off its beds and forward about 3 feet. It is about 400 lbs and I am working solo.

[deblen]

Depending on boat layout:
Try to remove existing engine & gearbox as a unit.
Many videos on youtube. try to learn some tricks from them.
Here is one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N1duy312qE

[MicHughV]

Here's what I did in a similar case.

I used two 2x4's aligned with the engine support mounts and engine support structure.
The two 2x4's "rails" were connected to each other by other pieces of plywood, so that they wouldn't move and extend out about 4' or so from the engine bed.
Finally, I greased the top of the 2x4's.

Though I used 2x4's, depending on your situation, you may need to use something else, the point being to make a "rail" that extends the engine mounts into the fore cabin.

Assuming the companionway steps have been removed.

This way, I simply slid the engine forward, might take a bit of doing, but not difficult.
Two people can simplify this.

Once directly under the companionway hatch, I rigged another "beam" on top of the boom, made with several 2x4". This was lashed to the boom.

Then, with a block and tackle lifted the engine out and up.

Then comes the tricky part, getting it out thru' the companion way. To accomplish this, I had a second set of block and tackle position aft of the first set. I used this to take the strain of the first set so that it could swing back 6-9" or so.

Repeat this process until the engine is in the cockpit.

Again, using the 2x4 blocks, I used the halyard to get the engine up over the coamings and on to the dock.

Ok, some caveats. Prior to doing this, I removed as much weight as possible...starter, flywheel, manifolds, etc, etc. Trimmed thusly, I think my engine was somewhere in the 350 lb range.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Putting a new engine back in is simple a reversal of this.

I did mine mostly on my own, but did have a friend help me swing it over to the dock. A second pair of hands is very useful here.

[sanibel sailor]

Thanks. My boat is ashore with the mast down. I have a hoist arranged, and have an engine leveler so I can tilt the engine up/down to get it out. Getting it out of the engine room is my challenge. I am thinking of rails as above. With the mast out, I don't really have anything substantial below to which to belay a tackle to pull it forward.

[sanibel sailor]

Originally Posted by deblen

Depending on boat layout:
Try to remove existing engine & gearbox as a unit.
Many videos on youtube. try to learn some tricks from them.
Here is one:

This guy starts his video with the engine out of the engine room and under the companionway. I believe I have it solved at that point. Why keep engine and tranny together? Mechanical gearbox, so no hoses etc. Removal makes it more compact and lighter.

[MicHughV]

with the boat out of the water, etc, were it me, I'd construct two A frames each side of the cockpit with a beam between them, etc, etc.

On the other hand, it won't or shouldn't cost too much to have the yard lift it out or rent a small crane, hoist, etc, probably be more efficient and cost less than trying to fabricate something yourself.

Go by your friendly neighboring equipment rental store and see what they have available and how much rental would cost, etc.

If the marina has a boat forklift they could pull it out by dangling it on the end of one forklift arms, I've seen that done a time or two. Shouldn/t cost too much for an hour equipment and labor.

[Bellinghamster]

Depending on the condition and your plans for the old engine, removing the exhaust manifold, head and flywheel lighten things up immensely and also gives you a lot more room to maneuver it out. If it's a running take out, and you want to keep it that way to sell, then overhead beam with a "sled" on top that you can lash the engine to after lifting it by whatever means are available/possible. It also might be possible to slide a plank underneath the engine, lever it up and block the aft end, then slide the engine forward on it's oil pan on the plank.

Support the boom with your main halyard where you're lifting from. Raising the boom quite high will help with swing angles when you need to get it aft of the companion way enough to set it down temporarily to re-rig further aft on the boom to be able to to swing it over the side. Rigging it so it hangs slightly aft of the opening and using a line to the mast in the cabin to pull it forward to clear makes this a bit easier. Be sure to add guy lines off the boom end to control swing as the boat heels A 1/2 or 3/4 ton lever chain hoist for lifting is well worth the money (~$100 at Harbor Freight if you're in the US) and very controllable compared to trying to do it with a come along or block and tackle.

And take/share pictures of the process

[sanibel sailor]

It is at my private shop, well inland. Rental places want $500-600/day for a suitable machine. A neighbor has a Genie lift somewhat like photo that will work. Planning on old one out and new one in at same time. New engine is lighter.

[MicHughV]

Having done just such an operation, I can assure you, as you likely already know, is that it is a royal pita, and careful planning is the key to success as you don't want a whoopsie moment any time during the swap.

Having done it once, I would not do it again and would certainly consider finding the $$$ to have a crane/hoist/something/anything to do the heavy lifting for me.

[sanibel sailor]

That one photo makes me think of an overhead trolley, hanging the engine off a couple of pipes and rolling it forward on the track. Dangling would make it easier to swing side to side to clear obstructions.

[Island Time O25]

Some years back we replaced Universal 5411 with Yanmar 2QM15. The boat was on the hard with the mast down. We put two 2x4 across the companion way entrance and used a come-along to rachet it out of its engine mounts. It barely cleared both the entryway and was put on the thick plywood sheet we laid across the cockpit seats. Or was it several 2x10, I forget. From then on the boatyard's crane took over.

Few weeks later used the same procedure in reverse to drop in the Yanmar. And in between I spend three days reconfiguring/reglassing the engine bed and mounts to fit the Yanmar. Not a job I like to repeat but very educational and IMO a must for every hands on boat owner.

[Don C L]

Having done this with an MD7A, there were two of us, but we disconnected the engine from tranny, slid it forward a bit so we could lever the engine up slightly onto 2x4 rails out into the cabin. As far as hoisting, the travel lift in the yard had a crane on it and we had them hoist it. Perhaps your yard has that option?

[Island Time O25]

Don's post reminded me that my first engine take out experience was in 2009, when we took MD5A out. The boat was on the hard in the friend's backyard, right under a tree. Used the sturdiest branch to throw a heavy line with about 1:8 purchase and used it to coax the engine out of the cabin. Then just slowly guided it to the ground. Getting it to the cabin from the engine bay was relatively easy but to get it through the companionway had to chop off some joinery around the companionway steps. Wish all boat designers and builders would account for an occasional in and out install of all parts without hacking the boat's interior to get them through.

Since we decided that MD5A was not making financial sence to either rebuild or replace we did slap O/B bracket on the stern and never had to return MD5A to the boat. That experience taught me that difficult jobs become much easier when knowledgeable people are helping you not just with remote advice but on the spot. ))

[barnakiel]

When I helped - we removed bloody everything from the old engine. It became much lighter then and much easier to slide.


We used a long thick plank hinged aft. And we oiled the top of it. It was quite easy then to slide the engine on its 'belly'. Inch by inch. AND we had the engine secured with a purchase fixed from above the companion - just in case.


Once under the companion, the boatyard small lift pulled it out.


Our engine was about 100 kg and we were two. It took us the whole day to remove the old one. But only some 4 fours to place the new one back in.


barnakiel

[NorthCoastJoe]

I did a Perkins 41-08 to Beta 50 swap alone. I made cribbing out of a pallet to stack under a 1x12 pine board to slide the engine on. Mine went easy, If you have trouble sliding it use a few cut up bleach bottles between the board and engine to slide it on. Makes it very slippery. Also you can use some long boards as levers to pry it forward.