The other end of each lifting tackle was attached to a soft shackle around an engine mount arm. To them, we attached blocks, then reeved four lifting tackles forward and aft, port and starboard. We already had four deadeyes through-bolted forward and aft at the top of each side of the engine bay, installed when first fitting the engine. With all necessary gear on hand, we could proceed. The latter was a tricky job since the access holes on the inboard faces of the beds lined up with the old Yanmar mounts but not the current mounts. And we loosened the two bolts securing each mount to the engine bed. We loosened the main nuts on the top of each mount. We drained the engine of oil and coolant to reduce weight and avoid spills. This involved detaching: power fuel inlet and return raw water from seacock, vented loop exhaust Morse throttle and gear shift controls electrical harness to control panel and the propeller shaft coupling. While awaiting the gear we could prepare the engine for lifting. Hauling out hadn’t been necessary when we installed the new engine so nor would it be for this work. We decided to carry out the project with the boat in a marina berth. Thankfully, we had all the tools aboard necessary for the job. We had to bus into Colon – three hours each way – several times to collect courier packages. We had various spare blocks aboard but not enough. Our project started on arrival in Linton Bay Marina, about 30 miles east of the Panama Canal.īy then the new inserts were on their way to us, as were a set of small blocks to use in lifting the engine. Yes, a typical boat project! Preparing for a boat engine mount replacement This is the story of how a small problem can morph a project from short and simple to long and difficult. We thought we were in for a reasonably simple job: lift the engine remove mounts fit new inserts fit mounts lower engine and align engine to shaft. Thankfully the weather improved and we were able to cruise the San Blas with little engine use and no further deterioration.Īlong the way, we contacted the Australian mount manufacturer PolyFlex.Īfter viewing the photos, they recommended renewing only the inserts, greatly reducing the cost. The polymer inserts provide the shock absorbing ‘elastic’ in the mounts. One of the old, deteriorating engine mounts.
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