Lifting a 9.9 from a well

[Slaterboats]

I have a Yamaha 9.9 hp in a well in my sailboat. I keep the boat in the water and the shaft gets covered in
barnacles. The motor is to heavy for me to lift it out by myself and I want to design a mechanical lifting system. The boat is a Quickstep 24 foot sloop. Does anyone have any ideas. I have thought I could put a lifting harness around the motor and use the halyard and a winch to lift it out, I have thought about erecting a tripod over the well and motor and lifting it straight out. When I get it out I will leave it out, but resting on a support of some sort. Thanks.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

You can find on the market engine straps for lifting purposes, check Iboats, West Marine, Defender: will need to install a small crane at proper surrounding for placing/retrieving engine, check Harbor Freight Tools small cranes.

Happy Boating

 

[zopperman]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

block and tackle
come along
rope over a tree branch

Welcome aboard

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

rather than take along a tree branch, why not hoist it up with the boom? Is it long enough? then add a board to the side of the well as a second mounting bracket. I'd think you want it out of the water for drag reasons anyway.
Consider how deep it dips and whether you could use a shorter shaft.

This may be over-engineering, but look at the design of a one-arm boat lift, adn consider a sliding plate to which the motor is mounted, and a crank, either teeth or cable, to raise and lower it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

A standard strap winch from a boat trailer would work nicely with a suitable mounting point. It is small, light weight, and when stowed does not take up much space. If the engine cover is easily reached, remove it and see if there is a lifting eye on the motor. If not, a simple bracket is all that's needed. Attach it to a couple of head bolts or other point on the engine.

 

[Slaterboats]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

Thank you for the input. I realize a little more information will help. I don't want to completely remove the engine from the boat. I want to lift the engine from the well and secure it when I am not sailing. The Quickstep displaces 4000 pounds and it is a double ender with a canoe stern. The engine is hardwired to the battery bank by a long connection from the engine to the battery bank located amidships just to the port side below a bunk. My challenge is lifting the engine straight up from the well and securing it into a position out of the water while the boat is docked and unused for a time period.

I actually made some headway to that end this last week when I was working at the boat. I placed a 4x4 perpendicular to the length of the boat over the well and supported above the well by the stern rail. I lashed a block under the 4x4. I lashed a line (the jib sheet) to the motor, up to the block, down to a block attached to the deck at the stern, and then forward to the starboard winch. After loosening the motor I used the winch to lift the motor straight up and out of the well until it came to the 4x4. The block at the deck also has a jam cleat on it so I could lift and the jam cleat would hold it in place.

So that was a success. I have figured out that I can get it out, now I have to figure out how to do it without having to use a big 4x4. Using the boom is a good idea, except, as Home Cookin pondered it is not quite long enough to lift the motor straight up. The best idea to come along so far is attaching a block to the back stay and lifting the motor with the block on the back stay. I was concerned as to whether the back stay could handle the 95 pounds, but I believe it can because the back stay under sail would be supporting quite a bit more than 95 pounds. Once I lift it out I will set it back down on a wooden support while the boat is not being used.

I thought about a davit and a sliding plate as well. From what I have seen when looking at the sliding mounts, I would not have enough room in the well to fit one. The davit would probably work, however, I have been looking for a solution where I would only install the most minimal new equipment possible. The weight of any new equipment is a concern because the boat is very sensitive to weight and where it is positioned. When I stow the anchor in the port cockpit locker the boat lists to the port.

When I get back to the boat next week I will secure a block to the back stay. Now I have to figure out how to secure the block to the back stay. I have been offered a couple of ideas so far, but if you have any please fire away.

One way will be to seize the block to the back stay with wire wrapped around the block. The other way is to buy some sort of item that I can crimp down onto the back stay. I have never tried seizing onto a back stay before and I have yet to look for the item I could crimp down on the back stay.

All in all, I think I am on track to success. I will be able to lift the motor, keeping it centered, without adding any more weight than an additional block and something to set the motor on in order to take the weight off of the back stay. I am not an engineer, but this has been a fun challenge.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

Sounds like you are well on your way to some ingenious solutions. Good luck! Your boat sounds like a nice one. As for fastening something to the backstay you might want to look at those wire clamps that are essentially a u-bolt with a collar. The bolt is threaded with a nut on each end. Remove the nuts and collar, hook the u around the stay, replace the collar and tighten the nuts. Not sure if I have the correct name or not for these things. I've got them on my marine railway to attach the winch cable to the cradle. The cable loops back on itself and is clamped by one of these devices.

The only caution I'd offer is that they need to be sized perfectly for the diameter of the cable (or in your case, the stay) and I don't know if the holding power will be what you need considering I've only ever seen them used in applications like mine where the cable is looped back on it self and attached to something.

In that application at least, they seem to have great holding power. My rail system is rated for a 4000 pound boat and just two of those little clamps are all that's keeping entire works attached to the winch. Not the same as a straight lift off the ground but you get the idea.

Being able to use the boats existing rigging is great but overall, I think some kind of portable tripod you could set in place for cranking the engine up and down would probably be easiest. If you don't want to carry excess gear just leave the thing behind when you leave the dock, assuming you return to the same place every time and can be sure it won't walk away on you. It may also not be too difficult to design and build one that collapses like a camera tripod for easier storage.

Good luck and post some pics of whatever solution you use!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

sounds like the back stay is the way to go.
Tie a short line with a small loop on the back stay (there is a knot for this) then add a clamp as described above below it for extra control. You may not need this. Remember, it's not the end of the world if it slips.
Rig a small block and tackle to hook onto the loop on the stay, and the motor, to lift it.
Make a wood block to put across the top of the well to hang the motor on, by its bracket. let it ride there and unhook and stow the block and tackle. Motor is up and out of the way; stay only has a small piece of line on it (which might bne useful for other things, such as a lantern).
A davit system is overkill.
Be sure to lash the motor; you don't want it to bounce off the upper support and drop down in the well to the bottom!
I still want to know--why wouldn't you want it out of the water while sailing, too? sailing is all about fighting drag.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-ton-capacity-pickup-truck-crane-with-cable-winch-37555.html - I misread the ? and thought you just needed to move it once...

 

[Slaterboats]

Re: Lifting a 9.9 from a well

Home Cooking'. I have also wondered if I can sail with the motor in the elevated position. I will probably try it once I figure out how to secure the motor in the elevated position. There is a large hatch cover over the motor and well. When I lift the motor the hatch will also be open and that will increase my windage. In the end I will have some form of drag either way. Having the motor in the water while sailing will add a safety factor because it is an electric start and will be ready to go if it is needed for any reason. I will need a block to sit the motor back down on to when it is elevated.

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. I will try to post some photos when I get it engineered.