Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

[Shawk]

Hey guys... I'm going to put a 2008 Mercury 2 stroke 50hp on my boat replacing the current 9.9 thats currently on it... anything I need to know or watch for?? I have the two boats they're installed on side by side in my garage. I know I need to move the controls over from each boat as well.

Long story short... I just bought a 17' Alumacraft with 2 engines (9.9 Johnson & 40 hp Johnson 91' & 92'). Previous owner has the 9.9 non-oil injected Johnson for smaller engine lakes on it right now. I got a pretty good deal on a 2007 50hp Merc 2 stroke which I want to put on my Alumacraft. Just looking for suggestions & tips. I'm handy enough ;l)... just looking for any ideas that may help move the process along and get 'em swapped.

Planning to sell the little 9.9... I have no need for 2 motors otherwise I probably would have kept both Johnsons to make it easier going back and forth. My boat can take up to a 80hp so I'm OK there as well.

Can snap a few pictures if that would help too.

Thank you!!!
All the best!

*EDIT* finished and added pic this original post.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

When mounting be aware of the height. The plate directly above the prop needs to be about 1/2" - 1" above the keel. Make sure you bolt the engine and I would not use just the screw mounts. Use some 3m4200 or 5200 when you mount the bolts.

 

[Shawk]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

Thanks Bob! Will be sure I do that.
All the best!

 

[nwcove]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

also make sure the motor is perfectly centered on the transom before you drill any holes. (and use ss bolts with anti-seize on the threads with lock nuts.)

 

[CWKboat]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

Do you have a lifting eye for that motor? Some sort of overhead lift makes it so much easier. I used a come-along/ratchet-type puller to raise and lower it. Of course you would need a solid anchor point overhead. The come-along has a cable/hook that you could loop over an overhead joist for example. The 50 HP shouldn't be too heavy.

 

[Shawk]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

Thanks guys!! Well the Merc in on my boat... not done but very close. A few little things and it's ready to go. I'm not sure how many hours today but it was a bunch! But I needed to change over everything not just the motor. The beauty is when I measured and finally put the motor on everything lined up perfectly! No new bolt holes drilled and the ??keel?? lined up with the underside of the boat as I understand it needs to be... that was a nice little bonus.
Regarding the motor install and weight... I've got a little tractor with a bucket which seems to always come in handy and my oldest son is now a high schooler. Everything went fairly smooth but I can't imagine doing much more than a 200lb 50hp motor.
Now it's just about time to get the 40hp on the boat I'm going to sell and we'll be set. I've got everything already in place on that boat but the work is still ahead. One thing I've always done is keep a camera handy when I do anything like this. I did it with my first engine change over on a car years ago. I simply take pictures of things as I go or whatever I think I might need along the way... that way when I'm all done everything is exactly back the way it was from the factory. Keeps things clean and alleviates the question of which wire was tucked under what and where.
Thanks again!! I'll post a pic or two when complete.

 

[Shawk]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

Thanks all... Snapped a pic with the new motor installed and attached to my original post.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

nice looking rig shawk.....good job!

 

[Shawk]

Re: Putting on 08' Merc on my boat myself... thoughts/things I should know/watch for?

Thanks NW... glad it's done.