New engine-crane or manhandle

[jamie N]

Tested, insured, trained and competent operator etc, etc...

A lot would depend on the engine size, and accessibility. My engine's 80kgs, and lowers very simply into its bay, with great access for all but the final few cms.
I'm able to lower it with a chain hoist very safely with one hand, whilst positioning it with the other.
Getting the engine into that position is a matter of using either the boom/topping lift, or when it was on the trailer in my driveway I used a long plank as a false mast, and hung the boom from that, then did it in the normal way.
Very easy to control with a total cost in the order of £40 for the plank, chain hoist and lifting strop.
Nerve wracking to do? You bet, but it's easy to achieve a good result and a large saving of 'dosh'.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Tested, insured, trained and competent operator etc, etc...

As John has done an engine lift 4 times he would be considered a trained and competent operator

Th chain block would be tested and insurance would find some way to refute any claim.

I myself have lifted 100.s of heavy equipment over maney yeas of lifting engines from cars and boat let alone heave Engineering structures

I some ne has no previous experience you may be correct in recommending employing someone else

 

[john_morris_uk]

Tested, insured, trained and competent operator etc, etc...

There have been many many times when I’ve seen a tested insured and allegedly competent person doing a job I know I could do better myself.

Put it another way, I really resent paying money out to people to do things I can do.

 

[penfold]

Paying for a crane is a daft idea; the engines being discussed here weigh rather less than the typical load on a main sheet in a stiff breeze, masts, rigs and booms are more than capable of taking the loads.

 

[Tranona]

Paying for a crane is a daft idea; the engines being discussed here weigh rather less than the typical load on a main sheet in a stiff breeze, masts, rigs and booms are more than capable of taking the loads.

That is fine if your mast is up. All 4 of the engine changes I have done were with the mast down. First one removing a Stuart Turner 8 and fitting a Yanmar 1GM second taking the 1GM out for work and replacing. These were both done manually by lifting the engines up to the cockpit (and down) using oil drums for intermediate positions and a beam across the companionway and the mainsheet. Took the gearbox off the second time to make it even easier. Third one was remove the 1GM (manually) and use the yard forklift to get the new Nanni 14 into the cockpit and beam/mainsheet to lower onto beds. Last remove Pekins 103 and fit Beta 30. Weight and bulk far too much for manual handling so fork lift again but with chain hoist rather than beam and mainsheet. Photo posted earlier.

There is no definitive answer - depends on circumstances and resources you have available.

 

[DownWest]

Done several, up to 300kg Usually with my 1 tonne chain hoist, but some with a ratchet winch. VP MD11 out of a launch with a couple akros and crosstube. Welded feet on the akros.
No way would I do it by hand, too many chances of injury and/or damage.
Usually with the boom, belt and braces halyard x 2

 

[steveeasy]

It’s a no brainier. Last time I did it cost 40 quid for lift with crane. Done in 30 mins no risk.

Steveeasy

 

[john_morris_uk]

It’s a no brainier. Last time I did it cost 40 quid for lift with crane. Done in 30 mins no risk.

Steveeasy

Quite agree. A no brainer to use the boom and my chain hoist and save myself £40. No risk actually means ‘someone else’s risk. You’re relying on someone else’s skill and insurance.

PS where do you hire a crane for £40? One of my clubs has a crane and although the rates are considerably lower than commercial ones it’s still a lot more than £40 for an engine hoist. Crane and trained operator who’s insured for £40 in 2023? With all due respect I’m highly skeptical.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Come on guys it's a bit of cake , it just seen some don't have any imagination or engineering to do the simple of job .
It's a good job tho going on about safely didn't seen me on a tower with Ladders tight on to reach ridge tiles that needed to be cement back into place .

 

[steveeasy]

This always crops up and I wish I’d not waste my time giving my advice when I get a response like this.
That’s what I’m charged £ 40 . For half hour. If you prefer to lift your engine in with your boom then that’s fine. My personal view given the size of the engine the op wants to lift is use proper lifting equipment. How many lifts fail useing a boom with inexperienced people and associated injuries.

Steveeasy

 

[john_morris_uk]

This always crops up and I wish I’d not waste my time giving my advice when I get a response like this.
That’s what I’m charged £ 40 . For half hour. If you prefer to lift your engine in with your boom then that’s fine. My personal view given the size of the engine the op wants to lift is use proper lifting equipment. How many lifts fail useing a boom with inexperienced people and associated injuries.

Steveeasy

Good luck to you then. I’m still sceptical that you’re getting an in date tested crane with a qualified insured operator for £40.

How many failures using the boom etc? None that I’ve heard of.

 

[DownWest]

This always crops up and I wish I’d not waste my time giving my advice when I get a response like this.
That’s what I’m charged £ 40 . For half hour. If you prefer to lift your engine in with your boom then that’s fine. My personal view given the size of the engine the op wants to lift is use proper lifting equipment. How many lifts fail useing a boom with inexperienced people and associated injuries.

Steveeasy

Also depends if a crane is available.
Swopped out an engine on the pontoon. Alternative would be hoist out to the yard storage and relaunch. Def not $40
The biggest one was out by a river. No chance of a crane.

 

[38mess]

I took my old petter engine out of my Eventide to replace with a Volvo. I had two big guys hanging on the boom to make sure it took the weight beforehand, no problems.

 

[steveeasy]

Just imagine telling someone it’s a piece of cake useing your boom to lift a 300 kg engine 8 ft of the ground(if it’s on the hard) and swing it in and it fails and kills someone.
I’ve cut corners more times than most people and had some lucky breaks. It’s not about no imagination it’s about available resources and weighing up the risks. Ultimately makes no difference to any of us just the people involved. If there is no lifting equipment then you improvise but in a safe way to protect yourself and others.

Steveeasy

 

[steveeasy]

Also depends if a crane is available.
Swopped out an engine on the pontoon. Alternative would be hoist out to the yard storage and relaunch. Def not $40
The biggest one was out by a river. No chance of a crane.

No my lift was £40 out and 40 in. Of course every place charges different rates.
Steveeasy

 

[KREW2]

I hoisted my Volvo 2002 out from my Westerly Storm, and lifted a beta 25 in. Chain pulley hoist to get it into the cockpit. The boom to lift it down on to a palette.
I say the boom but it didn't take the weight vertically, only laterally as a guide. I used the main halyard with a big loop around the boom and one of the reefing lines to hold it back in place. Attached a chain hoist and hauled it up, swung it over the side and lowered it.
The process was reversed to lift the Beta in, only it was lowered straight down the companion way onto two pieces of wood in front of the engine bay.
We slowly released the reefing line whilst hoisting up the main halyard and it slid forward nicely into the companion way. Only minor hiccup were a few eye fittings riveted on the mast preventing the compressed loop in the main halyard sliding along. I overcame this with a wooden wedge acting as a small ramp.

 

[vyv_cox]

As John has done an engine lift 4 times he would be considered a trained and competent operator

If someone has no previous experience you may be correct in recommending employing someone else

The thing about experience is that you only acquire it by doing it. There is an interim step, which is to get a competent friend or relative to give you a hand,

When we did this job Owen had never done it before. I had lifted an engine into the saloon but never aboard a boat. But I have lifted dozens of car engines in and out using a chain block. Using common sense and similar experience we got this very heavy engine aboard and installed with no trouble at all. There are two halyards tied at the lifting point on the boom and the engine is adequately attached to the hoist by stout rope.

 

[Tranona]

Good luck to you then. I’m still sceptical that you’re getting an in date tested crane with a qualified insured operator for £40.

How many failures using the boom etc? None that I’ve heard of.

The job in post #3 cost less than that Club rate is £40 an hour, minimum30 minutes for operator and any of the club equipment including the hoist. All of course tested with properly qualified operators,

Surely makes sense to use the best option available in the circumstances.

"crane" is a broad term. The commercial yard I often use has 3 levels - fork lift like the club uses, telehandler and a huge Coles for handling boats up to 50'. Last time I used the telehandler level it was £40 half hour just like Steves.

 

[john_morris_uk]

The job in post #3 cost less than that Club rate is £40 an hour, minimum30 minutes for operator and any of the club equipment including the hoist. All of course tested with properly qualified operators,

Surely makes sense to use the best option available in the circumstances.

"crane" is a broad term. The commercial yard I often use has 3 levels - fork lift like the club uses, telehandler and a huge Coles for handling boats up to 50'. Last time I used the telehandler level it was £40 half hour just like Steves.

That sounds great. It’s really a case of you pay your money and make your choice. Or in my case I don’t pay the money.

It was the suggestion that it was a no brainer to pay for a crane that got to me. But there again I’m fortunate that I’ve got a chain hoist.

 

[Tranona]

The no brainer (crane every time) was my direct response to the OP's question which was to manhandle with 3 or 4 blokes. If the question had been, for example what is the best way of lifting an engine out and in then the informed answer would be very different and my first suggestion would have been use the boom if the mast is still up., then ...if not use some form of mechanical lift like a crane.

Shows the importance of asking good questions if you want good answers!

Anyway after 40 posts he has more than enough answers to choose from.