Engine removal

[mciaio]

Can someone give me a very high level explanation of how to remove the engines from a motor yacht. The type that has the engines under the salon. I've done engine removals from boats before, but nothing like this. I would assume to strip the engines down to make it as light as possible, but if you need to do a full overhauls. How do you get the blocks out with the rotating groups?

Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine removal

Every boat is different. To do jobs like that takes creativity.
I have used forklifts with looooooong stingers to go through the back of the salon area with fully dressed diesels. Have also went through 30" side doors with a forklift boom and hand it off to a hoist sysem setup inside the boat. Have also been creative with boom trucks.
Removing doors, trim, window and lots of other things is also quite common.
Major fiberglass work is also not uncommon.

 

[mciaio]

Re: Engine removal

Thanks Don,

That's what I thought. Build a wood a-frame in the salon with a chain hoist to get it up and out. Then I figured some type of equipment to get it out of the salon. Problem being, it's an aft-cabin, so the salon is a couple feet lower than the aft-deck. I was thinking possibly removing a window and going out the side. I guess I'll just need to measure and see where the least amount of damage will be done.

 

[mciaio]

Re: Engine removal

Don or anyone else,

How about an "in-chassis" over haul. Typically done in trucks, you leave the block in place and then remove everything around it. Ever hear of this being done? Is it even possible or would it just be less work to try and remove it?

 

[Comogene]

Re: Engine removal

Mike:

I think you will find it easier to rebuild in the shop rather than in the boat. I have a 36' aft cabin and have gone from 440s to 460s to 454s. Remove as much as you can: exhaust, heat exchanger and oil. Unbolt from tansmission and mounts. Best lift was done by an I-beam across the boat with a chain fall. Beam was supported by two house jacks with wood planks to spread the load. Once out of engine compartment, set it on the floor and rerig the I-beam above the cabin door with bracing on aft deck and the bridge floor. One mechanic replaced the blocks while the boat was in the water by moving the I-beam to run from the aft deck to the float. The other times, used a forklift and a "cherry picker" to remove from aft deck and place on ground.

Measure the width of the cabin door. You may need to remove the heads.

Its doable. You just need to be inovative.

Gene

 

[mciaio]

Re: Engine removal

Thanks Guys. You got me thinking with some good ideas.

 

[sasto]

Re: Engine removal

The word "yacht" would tell me you are removing a diesel engine I assume. If this is the case, I would leave the block and crankshaft alone and rebuild her in the boat. We have done this with Detroit Diesels on several occasions. Working under the master engine builder, Jack Bevins, thats the way he does it.

 

[mciaio]

Re: Engine removal

No, gas. Diesels I would do in the boat because you can get the sleeves out. A gas you don't have sleeves so you need to bore/hone the cylinder walls. Plus cam bearings are much easier done with the engine out, I think.

 

[sasto]

Re: Engine removal

No, gas. Diesels I would do in the boat because you can get the sleeves out. A gas you don't have sleeves so you need to bore/hone the cylinder walls. Plus cam bearings are much easier done with the engine out, I think.

You are correct. Unbolt her and yank her out.