Looking for feedback on (crazy?) idea to shift engine forward

[trooper26]

New 365 owner, so I apologize if this idea is asinine.  Thinking ahead to the '25/'26 winter, I am trying to think of ways to get the engine out without fabricating that cool u-shaped bracket I have seen others do.  Here it goes:
With an engine hoist attached near the end of the boom and the chain dangling forward of the engine, use a long 2x4/pipe as a lever with the fulcrum being the point of contact with the hoist chain and the long portion going forward in the cabin.  It seems that I could get huge mechanical advantage and simply repeatedly lift the engine a bit, scoot it forward a couple inches, set down, slide connection between engine and lever, repeat.
Thanks in advance.

Todd
S/V Cetus
365 #22

[P69]

Todd,

The engine is 400 to 500 lbs and sitting on a forward slope. As soon as you take some weight off the engine, gravity will will slide forward; therefore, you'll need some way to control that forward motion. Your angled chain/lever design might work for that, but test out with some line to see if you can get the angles you need without the companionway threshold interfering.  You then have to lift it a few inches up onto the cabin sole and forward about 24". Once out on the cabin sole, you just hoist it straight up. The U bracket is only needed to pull it out of the cave and put it back in; it's not used for lifting it out of the boat.

Once the underside of the engine is high enough to clear the companionway theshold, you need to move it aft so the forward side clears the companionway opening in the coach roof and slide out out into the cockpit.

Your plan will likely work to remove the engine, but, depending your motor mounts, will be difficult to reinstall because you might need more precision when sliding it aft and lowering it onto the  mounts. That is where the U bracket is very helpful.

Here are links to what I did

Removal
Removing the engine before I knew what I was doing. Almost broke fingers when the engine slid foward once I took weight off.  I added blocks/tackle on both sides to control the fwd motion, but those were inadequate; however, I managed to get it out.
https://bodylens.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=9


Reinstall
Reinstalled using the U-shaped bracket. First you lower it down onto the sole, then use the U-shaped bracket to move it aft into the engine cave.
https://bodylens.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7