New engine install

[Harlyguynola]

Okay bought boat with port engine missing previous owner got Alzheimer’s don’t even remember he had a boat so needles to say don’t know how it was removed bought used one and ready to replace but want to do it off my dock in my back yard has anyone ever replaced engine that can explain how to get it in trying to figure out best way to get it back in while still at the dock

 

[Lou_tribal]

Good luck in your refit, some work to be done but hope you will find your way!

L

 

[Harlyguynola]

Good luck in your refit, some work to be done but hope you will find your way!

L

Thanks the actual question is what’s the best way to get engine onto boat through side doors windows companionway hatch anyone have a video or pictures or just an explanation on basics I have 15ft Ibeam my mechanic is very knowledgeable but it would help to hear from someone who has done it before or had it done

 

[yarradeen]

There is no standard way to remove engines. Every boat has different designs and modifications. Maybe a big polystyrene block shaped like the engine may provide a gauge for the best route out.

Check youtube for some examples.

 

[Harlyguynola]

Thanks I am installing it was removed before I bought the boat it is a 40ft DeFever DownEast picture is above of boat and engine any and all help is appreciated thanks

 

[McGillicuddy]

Not sure about the Down East, other DeFevers I have looked at had large hatches in the salon floor and decent size side doors. Easy enough to remove the engine in to the salon. Then decide which door it goes out. Remove all accessories from block before lifting to salon level to minimize the engine profile makes it easier. Use an engine hoist to lift the engine to above salon floor level, replace the hatch and roll it on a temp plywood floor and get it out the door onto the side deck. If you don’t have an engine hoist, Harbor Freight has them pretty inexpensively. Getting it on to the dock might be a trick but looks like a block and tackle job, with a few hefty boys helping along.

 

[High Wire]

A 6 cyl perkins needs a very robust and stabile base to rig off. When you shift the weight to the side, will cause more leaning, unstable. I cant see putting a crane on that dock. That leaves changing locations, timber slides, or a cherry picker. If it were me, haul and block the boat on shore or find a real seawall.

 

[Harlyguynola]

Not sure about the Down East, other DeFevers I have looked at had large hatches in the salon floor and decent size side doors. Easy enough to remove the engine in to the salon. Then decide which door it goes out. Remove all accessories from block before lifting to salon level to minimize the engine profile makes it easier. Use an engine hoist to lift the engine to above salon floor level, replace the hatch and roll it on a temp plywood floor and get it out the door onto the side deck. If you don’t have an engine hoist, Harbor Freight has them pretty inexpensively. Getting it on to the dock might be a trick but looks like a block and tackle job, with a few hefty

 

[Harlyguynola]

Not sure about the Down East, other DeFevers I have looked at had large hatches in the salon floor and decent size side doors. Easy enough to remove the engine in to the salon. Then decide which door it goes out. Remove all accessories from block before lifting to salon level to minimize the engine profile makes it easier. Use an engine hoist to lift the engine to above salon floor level, replace the hatch and roll it on a temp plywood floor and get it out the door onto the side deck. If you don’t have an engine hoist, Harbor Freight has them pretty inexpensively. Getting it on to the dock might be a trick but looks like a block and tackle job, with a few hefty

Thanks that’s what I wanted to know if it would make it through the door don’t have to take out I bought it with only 1 engine in all I need to do is get one in thanks I was looking on YouTube can’t find video so maybe I will video this

 

[koliver]

No pictures, sorry.
I used a truck mounted HIAB crane. My side door is 27" wide and lines up with the gate in the rail. My floors lift up to expose the engines, so a direct drop.
First you need to take off the removeables to make the engine less than 27" wide. Without Heat exchangers, aftercoolers, exhaust elbows, I got mine down to 26 3/4". I used cardboard to protect the varnish.

The Hiab did the whole lift from the skid on the pavement to the drop onto the stringers. Just need an operator who knows his equipment.

 

[McGillicuddy]

Good to know. If the main problem is to fit it through the door then it easy enough to measure. Critical dimension will be width only I would think.

 

[AusCan]

I slipped the boat and used a forklift and block & tackle to replace my engine. If you plan ahead well, it should only take an hour or so to drop the engine in place.

I built a replica model out of wood to give me the basic dimensions, so I knew how it would fit. Not so critical for you since you are replacing your engine with the same model, but it would still make things easier if you did a lightweight practice run.

 

[GMB]

...The Hiab did the whole lift from the skid on the pavement to the drop onto the stringers. Just need an operator who knows his equipment.

Do you know what model HIAB? Did it have the CTC feature?

 

[angus99]

On our 44, one side door is slightly wider to accommodate an engine block; either engine can be removed through it. Don’t know if your Defever was built at CTF (now POCTA), but Wilson Lin is very knowledgeable. Also, if you join Defever Cruisers you may find someone on the list who’s done this.

 

[TDunn]

I hired a boom truck. They physically put the engine into the cockpit. From there I built a double A-frame lifting dolly on casters and lifted the engine with a chain hoist. Then I rolled it into the salon over the engine hatch and lowered it onto the beds. I put temporary lips on the salon hatch edges to keep the dolly wheels from going over the edge. I built the dolly from lumber. It cost me about $50. I assembled it in place and disassembled it to get it off the boat.

 

[Ski in NC]

For tricky installs, best to take the boat to a yard and put it in travelift slings. Then get a boom truck or drystack forklift to stick the engine though a door. Boat can be lifted and tilted as needed by the travelift to improve geometry.

If a simple job, take boat to a drystack marina and they can fork the engine in while boat floats.

Takes careful measuring and planning to make the process smooth. No fun paying crane companies by the hour while you work through measurement mistakes.

 

[O C Diver]

First pic is pulling the 450 HP C series Cummins with a telephone pole setting truck and the boat in the travel lift. Had to back the travel lift up to insert the boom far enough into the boat. Space between the engine and the doors (cabin and transom) was measured in coats of paint. If the boat had been in the water, it would have been almost impossible not to scratch the paint.



Installing the new engine which is much smaller. I'm the grumpy old man in the pics.









Ted

 

[poczatek]

I know I'm going to get some laughs and speculation that I may be a little rustic (or perhaps even goofy) in methods. But I installed a 327 V/8 in my 1949 48 Christ Craft Commander the ole fashion way. Myself and two strong men, slide the engine down the dock on a dolly, slide the engine, well covered, up and down a 12" (covered) plank through the side door, down onto a sheet of plywood in the cabin. (Very carefully and slowly I might add so as not to bang, dent or crush anything) From there, hoisted it up with the "portable cherry picker" and dropped it into place on the engine mounts. Naturally, mounts must be perfectly set so that the engine sits at a perfect angle fore and aft and port and star; as well as perfectly lined up with the propeller shaft. I'm guessing the perkins weighs less than the engine I installed. Now, I must add, I did this when I was thirty years old with two strong young bucks helping. I'm 71 now, and might look for another method now days. I suspect damaging things will be a concern, no matter how you set the engine in. I sure hope you ran up the engine already and checked it out. Like I said in the beginning, a crude method, but it does work where you don't have access or room to use more crafty methods.

 

[poczatek]

Let me add, I do like the method O C Diver has posted; but if your doing it at the dock, well, -

 

[koliver]

Do you know what model HIAB? Did it have the CTC feature?

A forklift works well too. Check your engine mfg for the weight and use a F or Hiab with adequate capacity.
No, I never inquired what model. Got a guy who had done this before.
What is "CTC Feature?"

 

[Airstream345]

I found this video very helpful in understanding how this gets done in the yard.

Not sure about the balance challenges with a boat on the water but the three basic "equipment phases" appear to be:

1. Gantry up above the floor
2. Dolly to go through the door
3. "Pick it" off the boat (crane, forklift, etc)

Install is the reverse. Sounds easy eh?

If you do end up taking a video this process on your installation I'm sure many boaters like me would find it very valuable.

 

[Harlyguynola]

I found this video very helpful in understanding how this gets done in the yard.

Not sure about the balance challenges with a boat on the water but the three basic "equipment phases" appear to be:

1. Gantry up above the floor
2. Dolly to go through the door
3. "Pick it" off the boat (crane, forklift, etc)

Install is the reverse. Sounds easy eh?

If you do end up taking a video this process on your installation I'm sure many boaters like me would find it very valuable.

Will do going to happen soon my gen set Was in the lazaret all the way on the port side no hatch Above 10kw Isuzu 3 cal with Lima Mac gen looking impossible but got it out in garage rebuilt back in so I have painted insulated rewired reinforced floors new batteries inverters bought two new engines rebuilt and ready to install and will have one extra as a spare or sell

 

[Harlyguynola]

Will do going to happen soon my gen set Was in the lazaret all the way on the port side no hatch Above 10kw Isuzu 3 cal with Lima Mac gen looking impossible but got it out in garage rebuilt back in so I have painted insulated rewired reinforced floors new batteries inverters bought two new engines rebuilt and ready to install and will have one extra as a spare or sell View attachment 82045View attachment 82046

Then going to head to the Bahamas

 

[Harlyguynola]

then going to head to the bahamas

 

[Steve]

Can you find out who removed it in the first place, if the prev. owner doesn't know maybe the yard where he kept it might, or maybe some invoices in the paperwork files, if any, on the boat may say.
good luck!

 

[Harlyguynola]

Can you find out who removed it in the first place, if the prev. owner doesn't know maybe the yard where he kept it might, or maybe some invoices in the paperwork files, if any, on the boat may say.

good luck!

Thanks Steve wish I could I tried everything looked at this every way believe me I live in Slidell looks like it came out in pieces the previous owner daughter said the engine e sat in pieces outside in the elements for over 5 years and was totally rusted she thinks it was her dads mechanic but I’m just going to get it in won’t stop hill it’s done one way or the other it’s getting in there

 

[McGillicuddy]

Then going to head to the Bahamas

Look me up. Heading to Bahamas in a couple of Months and plan to hang out there for 3-4 months.

 

[The Other Gary]

Here is how I did an engine swap in the water. 30 ton crane, a 24 foot house beam attached at the centre. Engine swivel mount at one end and a skid of interlock bricks at the other stabilized with a chain fall so we could tip the beam up and down. We walked the boat forward and back in the slip to slip the engine in the door then lowered it by raising the brick counterweight with the chainfall. Picked the old engine out and then put the new one from Tony Athens in after swapping the transmission over. 3 hours for the crane and operator and 8 hours for one mechanic and 4 hours for another. Started at 8 am and was turning and burning at 4 pm. most of the time was reattaching the alternator, aftercooler etc. we had to remove to get it out the door.

 

[Harlyguynola]

Here is how I did an engine swap in the water. 30 ton crane, a 24 foot house beam attached at the centre. Engine swivel mount at one end and a skid of interlock bricks at the other stabilized with a chain fall so we could tip the beam up and down. We walked the boat forward and back in the slip to slip the engine in the door then lowered it by raising the brick counterweight with the chainfall. Picked the old engine out and then put the new one from Tony Athens in after swapping the transmission over. 3 hours for the crane and operator and 8 hours for one mechanic and 4 hours for another. Started at 8 am and was turning and burning at 4 pm. most of the time was reattaching the alternator, aftercooler etc. we had to remove to get it out the door.

View attachment 82161

View attachment 82162

View attachment 82163

Thanks

 

[Harlyguynola]

Look me up. Heading to Bahamas in a couple of Months and plan to hang out there for 3-4 months.

Will do