Engine removal hoist

[jamie N]

I recently got one of these to remove my MD7A and insert the replacement Yanmar...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KATSU-1-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Reasonable price and gives full control.

That's exactly the one I bought! I've had the engine in and out 3 times now (don't ask), and it's been the best solution for me. I've had it hanging from the boom, both with the mast up, and with the boom supported by a framework which would've looked good on an Egyptian building site!

 

[penberth3]

Thanks, Control was one of my concerns. With a 6:1 system, we should have 41kg to lift (plus friction), which doesn't sound overly bad...

41kg is a lot to hold on a fairly thin rope. If you've got a couple of bags of cement handy, put a rope round them and try picking them up off the floor, with one hand.

Even if you have helpers is there room for them to work together? Are you sure everybody will be sharing the load at all times? If you need to stop how are you going to secure the hoist?

 

[mogmog2]

41kg is a lot to hold on a fairly thin rope. If you've got a couple of bags of cement handy, put a rope round them and try picking them up off the floor, with one hand.

Even if you have helpers is there room for them to work together? Are you sure everybody will be sharing the load at all times? If you need to stop how are you going to secure the hoist?

I wouldn't & couldn't try 41kg on my own.

It would seem that Oldharry has successfully used a mainsheet in the past, but that a hoist is better.

Options include to surge the rope round a pile next to the slipway. I could get a whole team then down there, or to rig a turning block to get a fair lead onto the winch. Or get a hoist, which may be simpler, but depends on timing.

 

[mogmog2]

Thanks. That's a fair point. I'm not sure yet:
The engine stopped through overheating, but starts & runs OK and with no untoward wheezing or unpleasant noises. On a previous thread of mine, there are indications from others that the engine may be OK and 2 highly experienced people I know (one pro) has suggested that it could have been a diesel vapour lock that stopped it. The way it died fits in with fuel starvation.
However, a few days later I couldn't engage any gear. This was working fine previously and appears to be coincidental to the overheating issue (again, previous post).

So in answer to your question, with a possibly dodgy engine and definitely unhappy gearbox, I was going to take the whole lot out, dismantle the gearbox and if anything's broken, get a replacement engine & gearbox to see us through this season.

I could potentially separate the two with the unit still in the cabin but I'm wondering if the extra effort of getting it offloaded into my trailer is less than working within the confines of the cabin? It's only a Centaur, so not a lot of space.

 

[peteK]

View attachment 70476

This what I used. 4000kgs capacity, Currently on fleabay at £65. Makes light work of a few 100kgs of engine and allows the complete control needed to avoid damage to yourself, your boat or the engine. Cheaper lower capacity ones rated 800kgs from Screwfix at £35. The gearing is lower so less easy to use, but for a one off, should do the job for 250kgs of engine!

This what I suggested in post 2 but the smaller ones are only £15 on ebay.

 

[Daydream believer]

View attachment 70476

This what I used. 4000kgs capacity, Currently on fleabay at £65. Makes light work of a few 100kgs of engine and allows the complete control needed to avoid damage to yourself, your boat or the engine. Cheaper lower capacity ones rated 800kgs from Screwfix at £35. The gearing is lower so less easy to use, but for a one off, should do the job for 250kgs of engine!

+1--
Mine was 3000kgs for £45-00 & i have used it for a number of jobs over the years. It does the job very easily. It is not worth bothering with blocks & tackles which possibly rely on a dodgy 4mm shackle not rated for 250kgs at the end anyway.

 

[fisherman]

Find a handy tree at HW, attach engine, wait for tide to drop. Seriously though, I did once lift a car engine out with chain hoist and tree. When it came to refit there was a gale blowing, I had the engine in and out ten times before I got a bolt to catch.
One chap wanted to get the engine up onto the deck. he made rudimentary sheerlegs, with a pulley, and started attaching fishing end weights and throwing overboard, railway chairs at 20kg each until near equilibrium was reached and he lifted the engine with one hand, placing supports with the other.

 

[oldharry]

I should mention that the engine I lifted with the mainsheet tackle was only around 150 -175kg. That was enough to convince me that it was not safe for a heavier unit when the time came. I have shifted my MD7A out in to the cabin and back using the sheet block and tackle, but that only involves a small lift. Think of the damage that weight might do, dropping several feet if it goes out of control. No less damage if you measure metric either.

 

[Halo]

If you are using the boom i would put a wooden post or similar lengthwise on the top side to spread the load along the boom and then use rope looped over the "post" to hang the tackle from. I dont like the arrangement shown earlier with a fitting on the bottom edge of the boom being used to hang the tackle from. Also consider using a haliard to stop the boom slipping down at the mast end.
I got the boom high enough to allow me to swing my sail drive out over the side of the boat and then to lower it onto a stand. This required a long length of rope due to the number of pulley blocks in the system. A similar plan may be ok in your case.