Can a Rookie remove an engine ?

My advice is to sell the boat now as-is. Removing the engine is not really option for you and depending on how much you spent to buy your boat spending 10k on the repair job may be a bit much for your 20 year old boat.
 
I believe you may become frustrated doing this work when you run into all of the frozen fasteners and lacking proper tools. If you do start the work it will be unlikely any mechanic will want to touch it after you give up part way into the job. Maybe just start saving and go boating later in the season?
 
I would have someone else do it and save yourself the head ache. Even simple things will drive you mad just my 2 cents
 
aerobat77 said:
For a proficient amateur its surely a job which can be done but lets be serious :

when he says he has zero mechanical experience and not even a proper tool box i would say no - and encouraging him just to try might be expensive or even dangerous .

Imho a much better option would be to search for somebody more proficient and serve as a helper .
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Exactly. I agree 100%. He has no experience at all by his own admission. Not even basic tools. Don't encourage him to tackle this kind of job as his first foray into mechanics. It will sadly probably end in an expensive disaster.
 
Blueone said:
You guys have zero sense of adventure.... I say go for it
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I do love spending other peoples money though.

I was anxious about doing the service on the new to me Cat 3126s. I am mechanical though and can turn wrenches. I did utilize my GFs brother-in-law though, ex Caterpillar mechanic now in sales, which made a big difference as he taught me along the way. I don't think you will find a mechanic who will show and tell you along the way, unless it's family, a friend, etc.
 
Pirate Lady said:
As Roald Amundsen said “An adventure is an expedition without proper planning “. Sounds appropriate in this case.
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Didn’t he disappear somewhere in the Arctic during one of his expeditions? Kind of a mixed message there PL.

In my younger years I worked as a mechanic and r&r’d many engines and transmissions from British, American, Italian and German cars, including a 1951 Rolls. I have seen the transom assembly replaced on our 280, and happily paid to have someone else do it.

The mechanical work to pull and replace an engine is pretty straightforward, likewise the drive. The transom assembly is also pretty basic, although a fair amount of boat construction knowledge would be necessary to determine if the transom itself is solid enough for a new assembly. If not, we go right into serious boat reconstruction territory. But that knowledge can be cheaply contracted.

My concern is not with the mechanical work itself, but with physically removing and re-installing the engine. It’s a heavy weight that has to be shoehorned into a tight space with a very convoluted reach. If someone is not experienced with brute forcing heavy lumps of metal around this job has the potential to become an accident waiting to happen, at the least some serious fiberglass damage and at the worst, fatal injuries.
 
My 2 cents is to pay a professional to do the work but I'm not sure you should throw 4000 into this repair because from the age of the engine, transom assembly & drive and the mechanical condition. Did you find a second opinion? I wouldn't attempt to do the work because you could get hurt both physically & definitely financially!
I'm sure most of us have already thought to ourselves that a 4000 repair on a boat is pretty much boating as usual. The thing is we've all been there and right after you spend 4000 fixing one thing another thing breaks! That's why we all know that BOAT stands for "Break Out Another Thousand"!
 
I’ll provide a few snap shots of when I pulled my motor and did a long block. It was not for the faint of heart. I’ve been working on boats and cars my whole life so personally I don’t advise him to tackle this. I’m sure (maybe be “willing to bet”) he doesn’t have the right tools. Also, nothing goes as planned. Since it was my boat I spent the extra time to paint everything. When replacing the transom I glassed all the bolt holes and opening and repainted the bilge, etc. This is no way a 1 day job. At home I purchased this a frame and I’m guessing it took me a month to do it the way I wanted.
Sure - pros will say its a one day job but don’t expect them to take the extra time to as most people won’t want to pay that hourly rate for the extras.
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That's nice work I'm glad it worked out for you
 
Scott215 said:
That's nice work I'm glad it worked out for you
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I’m just trying to provide the OP a small visual on what’s involved. I don’t do this for a living but even with my background, it’s a lot of work. I can’t imagine someone who doesn’t wrench taking this on.
 
boatrboy said:
I’m just trying to provide the OP a small visual on what’s involved. I don’t do this for a living but even with my background, it’s a lot of work. I can’t imagine someone who doesn’t wrench taking this on.
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Pretty good visual I would say, but even the best couldn't do that in a day. You would need multiple people and all in 2-3 days for the boat to see water if everyone was skilled and everything went right. I can see why it took you a month. But look what you have, even at two months. Great job.
 
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