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Removing Outboard/Removing Rudder

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RAG Sailor
Navigator

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USA
144 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/19/2013 : 20:29:41

These are real novice's questions: My intention is to leave my boat at the slip through winter. I would like to remove the outboard to get it serviced and then stow it in my garage. Does anyone have any good suggestion/methods about how to remove a Mercury 9.9 long shaft (about 95 lbs.) while the boat is afloat?

As for the rudder, I thought it would make sense to remove it and stow it below. When the boat was surveyed back in September one of the comments was that the rudder's moisture content was within limits. I took that to mean that over time a rudder does absorb water so by taking it out over the winter would allow it dry out for next season. Thoughts?

Good to be back at sea!

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2013 : 20:44:58

I make a harness for the top of the motor and attach and lift it with the Mainsheet. I also attach another line to pull it to the dock and a safety line that would stop it short of submersion should it fall. All manufacturers under report the weight of their motors. My Merc Bigfoot probably weighs closer to 120 pounds.

Edited by - on

ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2013 : 20:48:58

Whenever I want to take the outboard off the back of my boat, I am always concerned with the possibility of dropping it overboard as I work to pull it off the mounting bracket or pulling something as I attemp to wrestle it over the rear pulpit and safety lines into the cockpit, so........ to minimize that from happening, I simply turn the boat around and back into the slip thereby putting the outboard out over the dock. This makes it easy to take off and easy to put back on - and no worries about dropping it overboard because I am standing right in front of it, sure footed and sure handed. Makes removal and replacement pain-free.

As for the rudder, leaving any type of wood in the water, laminated with fiberglass or any of those new fangled plastics, has a tendency to absorb water. If you are going to be away from the boat for any length of time, it makes sense (to me) to remove it and stow it in a shaded dry area, inside the boat, inside the boat house, etc.....

Edited by - ftworthsailor on 11/19/2013 20:55:04

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2013 : 04:42:31

Tie a lifting harness to the motor. Use a halyard as a lift with a winch. Have some one guide it when lifting. Do you have a dolly to mount it on?

Edited by - on

RAG Sailor
Navigator

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USA
144 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2013 : 10:51:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hewebb
 Tie a lifting harness to the motor. Use a halyard as a lift with a winch. Have some one guide it when lifting. Do you have a dolly to mount it on?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Your idea is a good one. How much can a main halyard hold as well as the mast (when angled toward the stern)? As for transporting it, once I've got it on the dock my marina supplies golf carts. I will be able to bring it over to my car and take it home. The Mercury owner's manual has explicit instructions on how to stow the motor on its side so that won't be an issue.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2013 : 11:14:02

I also back in, but the dock is higher than the motor. Just unclipping the Mainsheet from the traveller makes maneuvering it with the boom easy. Using a halyard will let you lift it higher. Either way, it should really be a two person job

Edited by - on

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 05:09:41

RAG

Did you get your motor & rudder off?

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 08:03:30

The rudder shouldn't be stored where it can freeze. If it has any moisture in it, POP! ...you have a new "stripe" around the edges.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/26/2013 08:03:56

RAG Sailor
Navigator

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USA
144 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 08:27:03

hewebb, thanks for checking up. No, I haven't removed the motor yet. I'll need to bring someone out to the marina for help as I will employ the main halyard hoist approach. I was out there this weekend and yanked my batteries and brought them home.

Stinkpotter, I wished you would have chimed in earlier as I had already stowed the rudder below about 3 1/2 weeks ago. Hopefully it dried out enough not to expand if it gets cold and it has and will be getting down to the 20's these next few days. If it pops (as you say), well, lesson learned. When I bought the boat back in September I was on the fence as to whether I was going to replace my rudder. This may make up my mind a little sooner

.

Unfortunately I am 106 miles door to dock so running out to the marina last minute is really not an option. Miss my days when I lived on Long Island but at least I've found water and sailing fun again.

Have a happy Thanksgiving

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 09:14:35

If you can back your boat into a slip so that the outboard's motor head is next to the dock, lifting the motor from the mount onto the dock is not that difficult. You need to lift only high enough to clear the mount, slide to the side a bit so the shaft clears the hull, then lean back so the bulk of the motor's weight is resting on the dock. At 60 years old, I could do it by myself with my Nissan 9.8 (93 lbs). However, your docking situation may be totally different.

Edited by - on

RAG Sailor
Navigator

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USA
144 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 09:43:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 If you can back your boat into a slip so that the outboard's motor head is next to the dock, lifting the motor from the mount onto the dock is not that difficult. You need to lift only high enough to clear the mount, slide to the side a bit so the shaft clears the hull, then lean back so the bulk of the motor's weight is resting on the dock. At 60 years old, I could do it by myself with my Nissan 9.8 (93 lbs). However, your docking situation may be totally different.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You described exactly how I intend to do it. I'm in a two boat finger slip and have the ability to turn her around and back in. As I said, I'd like a second person on the winch while I swing the engine over to the dock. Oh, and by the way...60 is the new 40 (I'm 62)!

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 11:34:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RAG Sailor
 Stinkpotter, I wished you would have chimed in earlier as I had already stowed the rudder below about 3 1/2 weeks ago...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">RAG, I wish you'd asked earlier (than about 2-1/2 weeks after you did it).

Edited by - on

RAG Sailor
Navigator

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USA
144 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 11:45:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RAG Sailor
 Stinkpotter, I wished you would have chimed in earlier as I had already stowed the rudder below about 3 1/2 weeks ago...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">RAG, I wish you'd asked earlier (than about 2-1/2 weeks after you did it).

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Here's a thought. If rudders are left in the water, the moisture tends to wick to the portions that aren't submerged. What's to stop the upper portion from freezing overnight and expanding? BTW, these freezes are brief and generally followed by warmer days. This current cold front we are experiencing at this time of the year is not the norm.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2013 : 19:56:57

You don't show the vintage... Up to around 1987, the rudder was solid glass below the waterline and wood cored above. Then they switched to the balanced rudder that was foam core throughout. The wood core probably got most of its moisture from the holes for the pintles and tiller. Many of them split neatly at the seam between the two shells, maybe even without freezing. The foam rudders seemed to do better, but it's still good to keep them from freezing or getting direct sunlight on their bottom paint.

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