Engine Mounted!

My son and I finally tackled getting the engine from the cabin sole onto it's mounts.  Unfortunately, I didn't really take any pictures during the process because my hands were literally full.  Even though this move was miniscule compared to the move from my shop to its resting place in the cabin, the engine compartment is a tight spot and I spent an inordinate amount of time overthinking the 2 foot move. 

Initially, I envisioned building a gantry similar to what some other Niagara 35 owners had done, but it would have involved quite a bit of setup time and cost for materials and it was all just more than I wanted to tackle.  I just wanted the engine in place.  In the end I opted to hang 2 chainfalls off a 6x6 chunk of timber spanning the companionway hatch.  

I attached the first chainfall with lifting straps as close to the centerline as possible.  Using the chain bridle that initially lifted the engine into the boat, we lifted the engine up off the cabin sole and then removed the 2x8 frame it was resting on.  Next we swung the engine aft as far as it would go (about 1/2 way onto the engine stringers) and lowered the aft 2 engine feet onto the mounts with a 1x1 wooden block under each mount to act as a 'sled'.  

Next, I attached a second chainfall to the 6x6 post and the forward part of the engine, tensioned it to hold the weight of the forward end of the engine and then freed up the first chainfall off the bridle.  At this point, the aft half of the weight of the engine was on the stringers and 'sleds' and the forward weight of the engine was still suspended by the second chainfall.  

Now it was time to slide and muscle the engine the rest of the way back onto the stringers for it's final resting place.  It took both of us to get it in position, but once we were close we took out the 'sleds' and it went into position nicely.  After a quick celebration, I got the rear stainless steel angle iron mounts bolted into place and we unrigged the chainfalls and called it a day.

The next day I drilled out the forward mounts (I had previously filled them with epoxy) and bolted the remaining angle iron mounts into place.  I installed the PSS shaft seal to prepare to get the transmission back on board (the transmission sits right on top of shaft seal so the PSS has to be installed first).  Then I can start aligning the engine to the shaft and install the exhaust, raw water intake, fuel lines, and engine controls, but that can wait for a few weeks.