Weigh Hey Up She Rises!

A No-Effort Engine Lift by William Longyard

After reading Tom Luque’s article in SCA #137 I realized I wasn’t the only one with difficulty raising my outboard.  Engines for small boats used to be lightweight 2-strokes; now they’re hefty 4-strokes. Most engine brackets are sold with optimistic lifting capabilities.

Here’s my variation on Tom’s theme.

When I built a small solar-panel arch on top of my stern rail, I had the opportunity to add a lifting block and tackle so I could easily hoist the engine without risking injury to my back, or even leaning out over the transom. (Readers who own sailboats without solar-panel arches might consider modified boom crutches that pivot slightly aft, so they’re above small outboard motors on the transom…or socket-mounted davits that could support the tackle described below.)

Lucky Town 9, an O’Day 20, is my ninth sailboat named after the Bruce Springsteen song.

The 3-to-1 block and tackle connect to the solar panel mount and a grab bar on front of the Tohatsu engine.  This engine can be 4, 5, or 6 hp depending on the carburetor.

The upper block attaches to a 3/16” stainless eye.

The lower block attaches to a ¼” stainless eye. Note the stainless plate to spread the lifting load across the engine’s grab handle. I’m disappointed in some of the casting work on Tohatsu engines, and so I felt this a reasonable precaution.

A rail-mounted cam cleat makes lifting, lowering, and tying off easy.

There isn’t enough space between the lift handle and the engine plate to turn the engine’s mounting screws, so I added 1” aluminum spaces between the stainless mount and the plastic plate.

I welded an inexpensive spare tire mount to my winch upright to support a laminated plywood plate to support my engine while trailering it.

Parts:

Outboard Bracket: Five Oceans FO4203

Cam cleat: United Yachting Fender Adjuster UY986

—William Longyard

William Longyard is the author of the classic A SPECK ON THE SEA, a must-read for small-boat sailors. His latest books, about classic coach building techniques, are available on Amazon.