Prep for Engine Install

I finally found a crane company (Reliable Crane Services) through a friend that is willing to drop the engine in this upcoming Saturday and as a result, I am terrified.  I know this sort of thing is done all the time, but I've never done it so I started to worry about pretty much everything surrounding the event.  Would the engine even fit in? Of course it would because it used to be in the boat dummy.  However, as I reviewed some photos from the previous owner who removed the engine, I saw that he had stripped a lot of the parts off before removing.  I ran over to the boat and started taking measurements and found that theoretically, the fully built engine could slip through the companionway hatch, but just barely and it certainly wouldn't drop straight in.  

The companionway measures roughly 23.5" wide at the top, but tapers down to 17" at the bridge deck.  It is 23" long (fore and aft). The engine is about 20" wide, but 28" long fully built, so suffice to say, it wouldn't fit without some crazy maneuvers as it is lowered down.  I decided to strip it down to what the previous owner had done to make it about 50lbs lighter and a bit slimmed down.  I pulled the exhaust manifold, alternator, heat exchanger, air filter, and a bunch of cooling hoses.  Prior to that I drained all the oil and coolant as well so I don't make a huge mess.  

So even with the engine stripped down, it's still going to be a square peg in a round hole situation.  With so many dimensions in play between the companionway hatch and the engine itself I decided to make a cardboard mockup of the engine and figure out the best way to lower it in.  I taped together a bunch of cardboard into a big rectangle with the maximum engine dimensions and brought it over to the boat with a piece of wire to simulate the chain hoist.  I probably looked pretty ridiculous up on the boat with a big cardboard box lowering it up and down at various angles.  

I think I figured out the best angle of approach as the engine enters the companionway and once satisfied, I loaded the engine onto my utility trailer and brought it over to the boat along with my wife and son over (they will be helping me on lift day) to walk them through my sad choreography.  

Of course once the engine is lowered into the cabin, then I have to figure out how to get it into its final resting place, but that's a 'future me' problem.  One thing at a time.  I'll try and post a recap later this weekend, hopefully it will be good news and I'll have a few photos.