Two boats, one engine ?

[C-NUMB]

Hi, maybe a strange question but here we goes: considering having identical controls, correct tools and lifting equipment how hard/ what would be a estimated time to remove engine and attach on another hull. I am no pro but learning by doing......In this case referring to my Yam 90 on the SR.

Maybe a crazy idea but considering to purchase a little faster hull( type P16 or Argo) to play around with every now and then and the Yam would be perfect for such use. Those hull's can sometimes be very cheap so not much costs involved without the engine. However the SR will stay as main boat.

[jyasaki]

Sounds like a pain in the butt to me.

Then again, some people put up with a lot of hassle to get by with what they've got, so...

jky

[JABS]

I guess if you had duplicated everything apart from the engine, it wouldn't be too bad.

You would need to make sure the engine harness had a plug under the hood, duplicate throttle and gear cables and steering. You would need to disconnect the battery leads from the engine, fuel, and any instrument cabling.

There would be a fair bit of expense in the duplicate equipment.

Once set up with plugs and sockets, couple of hours?

[Andy B]

not sure i'd want to put my trasom through that sort of regular abuse!
the bolt holes are gona get tired and before long water is gona get in there,
unless your planning on sealing up every time you swop the motor over

[Downhilldai]

You can never have too many outboards.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by JABS

Once set up with plugs and sockets, couple of hours?

I'd have thought that was pessimistic:

• Disconnect fuel line...............1 min
• disconnect wiring harness/loom........2 min
• disconnect battery cables...........5 min (could be made quicker)
• disconnect gear cable..............1 min
• disconnect throttle cable............1 min
• disconnect steering arm linkage........2 min
• remove steering "rod/piston thingy" from tilt tube..........1 min
• attach lifting harness to engine........5 min
• loosen and remove engine bolts......3 min
• lift engine..........1 min

So 25 mins to get it off the old engine. the same to refit - if everything is set up just waiting.

Another 15 mins if you need to swap props every time.

Organised and efficient from doing it regularly it should be possible to do in an hour. But in terms of faff factor its massive, and a second set of matching controls won't be a trivial cost.

[martini]

I'd say that's optimistic, mounting bolts 3 mins? Assuming 6 bolts then 30 secs per bolt

That'd be rushing which is normally a bad idea, almost as bad as having 2 boats and 1 engine in the 1st place

[BruceB]

With a hour setting up all the right tools and equipment and laying them out ready for use you may manage it in 25mins but in the real world I reckon a couple of hours for a 90 as well.
This also assumes it is being done regurlarly enough that nothing is stiff or seized.
I would buy another old motor cheap for the "fun" hull rather than do this personally.

[C-NUMB]

Thanks for Your comments/input. Sounds like doing it a couple of times /year would not be too bad, but summertime on a weekly basis, guess too much of hassle as probably also prop would need to be changed. Only minor savings on service and insurance.

Downhilldai put it well.... having 4 now, will sell the bombard and towatsu 25/30 so then can buy a another one keeping total number the same, most likely the wife won't notice a difference anyway

Have anyone tested to "tube" the transom holes? I mean to drill the bolt hole slightly oversize and then fit a stainless tube(of a size that the bolts would fit through) with sika. That way, in theory, water would stay away without sealing the bolts separately. Maybe another bad idea....?

[Ian Sharlot]

Originally Posted by Polwart

I'd have thought that was pessimistic:

• Disconnect fuel line...............1 min
• disconnect wiring harness/loom........2 min
• disconnect battery cables...........5 min (could be made quicker)
• disconnect gear cable..............1 min
• disconnect throttle cable............1 min
• disconnect steering arm linkage........2 min
• remove steering "rod/piston thingy" from tilt tube..........1 min
• attach lifting harness to engine........5 min
• loosen and remove engine bolts......3 min
• lift engine..........1 min

So 25 mins to get it off the old engine. the same to refit - if everything is set up just waiting.

Another 15 mins if you need to swap props every time.

Organised and efficient from doing it regularly it should be possible to do in an hour. But in terms of faff factor its massive, and a second set of matching controls won't be a trivial cost.

Sound good to me, what is your hourly labour rate?

[Rogue Wave]

Cos He's the boy to trust

[Poly]

I'll take the point that 3mins for the bolts might be a bit ambitious (although I think there are only 4 not 6 bolts?) but ignoring a prop change I'd still think its possible to swap it over in an hour if everything is already in place (and as Bruce points out nothing is seized etc).

I'm not sure that twice a year is often enough to either keep your efficiency up or ensure nothing seizes.

The other drawback to me would seem to be that the engine failing could keep you off the water on both boats. I'd guess that electrical connections etc are more vulnerable to damage if made/broken regularly and a silly electrical problem could end up leaving you high and dry for a few days waiting for spare parts etc.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Ian Sharlot

Sound good to me, what is your hourly labour rate?

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Cos He's the boy to trust

Well once you add in my tea break, paperwork, chin scratching, chatting to my coworkers etc - that will be 3 hours at £100/hr!

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by BruceB

With a hour setting up all the right tools and equipment and laying them out ready for use you may manage it in 25mins but in the real world I reckon a couple of hours for a 90 as well.
This also assumes it is being done regurlarly enough that nothing is stiff or seized.
I would buy another old motor cheap for the "fun" hull rather than do this personally.

Agree with that. The engine bolts will have sikaflex (presumably) to ensure a waterproof seal. Personally I'd source another engine. The thought of dismantling an engine that's running sweet is asking for problems. Swapping electrics is never straight-forward, especially when re-rigging.

[9D280]

Originally Posted by Polwart

• disconnect wiring harness/loom........2 min
• disconnect battery cables...........5 min (could be made quicker)
• disconnect gear cable..............1 min
• disconnect throttle cable............1 min

Then there's the 15 mins of faffing to get them back through the grommet...... (and I can assure you, reconnecting is a lot slower than disconnecting, coz you need to make sure it's all aligned, set correctly etc...)

Originally Posted by Polwart

• remove steering "rod/piston thingy" from tilt tube..........1 min

Not if there's an A- frame or Aux in the way....... (hee hee, this may be the only good thing about wire rope steering!

Originally Posted by Polwart

• attach lifting harness to engine........5 min
• loosen and remove engine bolts......3 min
• lift engine..........1 min

Personally I'd reckon 5 min / Bolt unless they are cut to the absolute minimum length and / or you have an air power socket screwdriver to hand.....


Granted I have an unhelathy interest in decrepit engines and an increasing allergy to faff, but subject to JKY's comment not being too close to the mark, Personally I'd be looking for a secondhand engine. Running costs will be no differnet to two identical engines, and if your "fun" boat is cheap, insure 3rd party only and you'll recoup the cost of a shiny new engine you would want to insure fully comp in a couple of seasons.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Personally I'd reckon 5 min / Bolt unless they are cut to the absolute minimum length and / or you have an air power socket screwdriver to hand.....

Use one of those on stainless bolts and you'll find out what a bad idea it was!

[9D280]

...which brings us back to the reality check of 5 min / bolt!

[bosun]

Pikeys can get them off in 60 seconds.................
and over the fence in another minute!

Sounds like hassle to keep swopping them though,need to buy yourself a battery wheel wrench at least. And an engine crane.
Slowest/muckyest part would be re sealing the four mounting bolts every time.
Once you'd done it a few times I reckon about half an hour a time?
Once the cables were all set up the same.
How many wires in the loom? seven pin trailer plug and socket?