Engine Installation

I hired a sign company to bring their crane to my home and lift the engine into the boat. At $125/hr, I didn't want any surprises when they showed up. I rigged the engine mock-up with a sling similar to the chain on the top of the engine and did a dry-run with the mock-up. We made sure that the engine with the accessory bracket wasn't too long to pass through the hatch. The balance point for the engine is just aft of the companionway opening, so the sling cable was bound to rub against the woodwork. I used a piece of old carpet to pad the bulkhead just below the companionway. In spite of the care we took with the installation, we still scratched the woodwork. Some minor refinishing is needed.

The picture to the left shows one of the crane crew helping to position the engine through the boat hatch. In all, it took less than an hour to install the engine. We built a deck with stairs next to the boat to make working on her easier.