Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Lion hunter

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Not looking to be unsafe here and tie off to the kids swingset or anything. I just didn't want to drive 120 miles round trip to buy a hoist. And being that I need one for a couple days I didn't want to rent one for $30 a day ( might as well buy it for that cost). Anyhow if anyone has any suggestions that are safe I'd like to here or see them. It's a 1967 60hp johnson that I figure ways apx. 220lbs w/o the hood.
 

Rickairmedic

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Apr 24, 2009
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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Lion Hunter I pulled my 80 Horse Merc with 2 buddies and myself granted I did employ 2 of my bigger ( redneck buddies ) :D but it really wasnt that bad a little top heavy but otherwise we managed to get it off nd onto my dolly with no major incedents and I could have just used the cherry picker one of them owns but it was just as easy without it .


Rick
 

legoman67

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

i agree, just get afew buddies and a case of beer. Good time for all ;)
 

allpoints360

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Is the motor on the boat on the trailer? If so, back the boat under a tree, wrap a noose securely around the motor (or you could use chain and the lifting eye) and tie to limb. Raise the motor by lowering the trailer wench, place blocks under the skeg, tighten the rope or chain, then raise the trailer which lowers the boat. Should be able to drive the boat away leaving the motor sitting on the blocks.

Be safe and be sure the motor is tied securely to a sturdy limb.

Worked fine for me many times.
 

Lion hunter

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Allpoints, thats pretty much how i got it off. But I only have elms in my backyard and I wont trust them to hold anything. To get it off I loosened everything. put some blocks under the skeg and had the wife and kids lift the front of the trailer. Then I just laid it over on some plywood. Oh well I'll get some beer to put it back on.
 

redfury

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

getting it off is easy, back on is the hard part, especially when you don't have any kind of overhead device to lift it up with.

Do you have any other male bodies that can help you with this? If you can stand the motor up, the easiest way to get it back on the boat is the same way you got it off.

Lift the nose of the boat up as high as you can get it and then walk the motor over to it on the skeg ( preferably on a piece of scrap plywood ) and put it on.

Depending on the situation, you could possibly install it with the motor mount in the "up" position..which may help with getting the first bolt on.
 

tallcanadian

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

I agree with legoman. A couple of buds and a couple of buds. bud light if you prefer.
 

Numlaar

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

I did the burly man thing, and just picked it up off by myself... (77' 70HP evinrude)... later on I found out the thing is supposed to weigh 250lbs ish...

Didn't know I could lift that much! LOL

For now though, I just put a ratchet down strap around a tree branch, and put the hooks through the lift ring, and ratchted it up. When Im done, I'll back the boat under it, and jack up the trailer till the motor is resting, then release the ratchet.
 

Lion hunter

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Well at least this motor is easier to bolt up. The outer mounts bolt on before the motor, the you just slide it in and screw in the pins. Sounds easy huh?
 

reelfishin

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

I've done a few things when I didn't have access to a hoist, either use a floor jack and have someone balance the motor on the skeg, this can be tough when also fighting with the steering cable.
Back under a big tree, secure a cable pull or come-a-long to a big branch and hoist it off, you can buy one at Harbor Freight for under $20. The last option is buy a case of beer and some ice and bribe some bigger buddies to come manhandle it off the boat.
Myself, I got tired of doing it the hard way and bought a gantry crane and a hydraulic engine crane. Both work well. I'd say up to about a 70 hp or so is doable by hand with a few buddies but anything much larger your looking to get hurt or damage the motor when it falls.

You could build a stand which cradles the motor under the anti-cavitation plate and then jack the tongue till the motor is supported and pull the boat away from the motor but you would still need a few buddies to steady the motor and work the steering cable free while you pulled the boat away.
 

wambs8

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Aug 18, 2008
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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

I used two 6 foot fiberglass step ladders (one on each side) with a 4 X 4 landscape timber across the top. I put a 10 inch eye bolt in the center of the timber. I turned the nut on top to move the outboard up off the boat and on to the stand. (90 hp johnson about 250 lbs.) Each ladder is rated for 250 lbs.
 

bailey

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May 17, 2007
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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Depending on how high you have to lift the engine,why don't you just use your jack from your car providing it is the "scissor" type. My son and I have done this a few times. (1980 140 hp Johnson). I don't know what you've put your motor on, (I hope some sort of a stand), the motor is probably off the ground already, put the jack under the skeg raise it up,wheel your trailer to a convienent position, you might have to raise the front of the trailer,to lower the transom a bit,back the transom up to the motor,lower the motor gently and your done, no muss no fuss.
Bailey
 

5150abf

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

I use 2 ratchet straps around a roof joist in the garage, crank one up then put the other on, crank that to relieve the first one and so on, works really well.

I have a 50 Evinrude that is right on the verge of being pick uppable, I can do it but it is pretty heavy.
 

Lion hunter

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

I realy have thought of the garage, but there is already christmas junk in the rafters and I didn't want to over load it. Thought about using 4x4 down to the floor for support.
 

Lion hunter

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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

Ok, I finally got it figured out. My garage is small so there is only an 8' door with block wall on either side of the header. I can run a 10' 4x4 between the blocks and tie into the header and lift off of that. Thanks guys for all the ideas. I was real hesitant about buying a cherry picker as I really don't have room to store it and I hated the thought of renting at 30 a day.
 

jim372

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Apr 24, 2010
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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

if my son is around he just gives it a bear hug and lifts
or i use my dads small backhoe
80's 50 hp merc 4
 

notsunkyet

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Jun 8, 2009
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Re: Whats the most creative method you've seen for lifting and outboard?

mine cost 6.42 cents every time i mess with the engine.... lol my neighbor is a heavy equipment repair guy and has a huge crane on his truck... the pisser here is he operates the crane by remote control and uses his thumb and trigger finer... some guys have neat toys lol.:)
 
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