Stern drive off, engine out

[thrasher]

Okay guys, I thought I had managed to fix my problem of a broken starter motor mount, but my repair gave up on me today. I also noticed water leaking in from the exhaust bellow when the boat is in the water.

My home owner rules do not allow me to leave my boat outside (and work on it), and my garage ceiling is too low to get the engine out (no room for a hoist), so I took my boat to the local boat repair shop.
Can anyone give me an idea of how much time it takes to remove the stern drive and engine? Looking in my manual, I would guess at an hour to remove the stern drive (max), another 30 minutes to disconnect water, electric and gas lines from the engine and a max of 1 hour to remove the engine, so that would make 2 and a half hours to remove the stern drive and get the engine out and another 2.5 hours to put it all back again, so 5 hours labour..
I can remove my car engine inless than an hour so 2.5 hours doesn't seem unreasonable to me, but I've never done it so I wanted to check if you all felt this was a reasonable estimate? I have never used this shop before so I want to get some idea of a reasonable cost from this forum in case I have to negotiate a little.. I will get an estimate to remove the stern drive and engine, correctly fix the starter motor mount and put it all back in again with new bellows.. Just want to have spome idea in case I need to discuss the price with the shop!!

Many thanks Gary

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

It'd help to know what you are working with?

If it is an older Merc, figure 10 minutes to pull the outdrive and an hour to pull the engine. That is assuming you have all your ducks in a row and nothing snaps or breaks.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

engine year, make and type of boat would help.I just pulled my 5.7 out of a 86 searay weekender.5 min to remove the deck,10 min to disconnect everything from the engine.15 min to get the backhoe in place.3 min to pull engine out of boat

 

[thrasher]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

Sorry guys, I guess I wasn't with it when I asked the question. Its a 1992 19.5 foot Glastron open bow boat (model G1900) with a 4.3L V6 Mercruiser engine and Alpha1 gen 2 drive (both of 1992 vintage).

Regards Gary

 

[Coors]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

Home owner rules... that is why I refuse to live in suburbia. Rather live with the critters, and abnormal folk.

 

[thrasher]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

I agree, it really Pisses me off that I can't even put up my Amateur radio antenna. We choose it for the good schools, but as soon as the kids are old enough we will move back to the sticks.. It irritates me no end that Its my house and I can't do anything that I want to it.. But thats another discussion.. Any idea on the work involved to remove the engine and stern drive?

Gary

 

[superpop]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

It took me several hours to remove my motor because of all of the interior parts that needed to come out. You can minimize the amount of labor that a shop will charge by having it completely disconnected and ready to pull out after doing the final removal of the 4 motor mount bolts. Same with install, have the motor ready to drop back in and you can do the rest. I would think you could do all of this your self without parking the boat at your house for any long period of time. I pulled my motor out in a day and had it and the drive in my garage over the winter and then put it back in the boat in a day in the spring. Not that big of a deal with a 20 foot boat. You can rent an engine hoist at any rental shop for 10 bucks a day and make a stand for the motor like I did for around 25 Bucks in Lumber. A hoist will work on a 20 foot boat even if you have to remove the trailer tires to get the boat low enough to clear the transom.

 

[Coors]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

I'd just go ahead and do it in the driveway; they can't evict you, just raise hell. By then you will be finished.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

We have that same rule around here. It's only enforced if it becomes a nuisance. Like guys with junk around all the time and working on stuff all the time. But for one-time, if nobody complains, you're probably okay. I'd want about what you estimate to do that extraction. Keep it orderly and I doubt anyone will complain.

 

[thrasher]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

It sounds like my home owners association is more vigilant than yours. I went on holiday for 2 weeks and left my dustbin just outside my garage door (you could hardly see it) but I still got a nasty letter.. I will see what the shop comes up with for a quote and then decide if I pay or **** off the home owners association!!

Thanks for all the advise.

Gary

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

I have the same thing here. However, the local police (at least here and I bet where you are) won't enforce subdivision covenants. So in order for them to get you to comply they have to go to court and get an order. They won't spend the time and the money to do it as by the time they do you will have your boat back together and the court won't issue an order when none is needed.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Stern drive off, engine out

I wouldn't make it there a week, I'm always working on things (chainsaws,lawnmowers, weedwhackers,vehicles,boat,work on and tune-up everything myself) The money I save doing every thing myself I go boating when I can . At least in the sticks I have my peace of mind and have freedom of choice to do what I want, when I want to do it.>>PAT