We removed the engine from the boat today. Without any special tools, I was wondering how this could be done. It is a 75 HP diesel engine, after all, which weighs, my guess, 500 Lb (220 kg).

The first step was to reduce the engine weight by removing as much hardware as possible (head, oil cooler, air cooler, alternator, starter). Every kilogram we could get off the engine would be a kilogram less we would have to lift.

Then we wrapped the engine with ropes and lifted off the mounts using a line and blocks leading to our primary winch, so that we could remove the transmission.

Then we put the engine on a piece of plywood and slid the assembly towards the companionway.

From there we rigged a rope via a block on the boom to lift the engine about 8 feet from the cabin sole to the deck.

Then we swung the boom over the side to the dock and lowered the engine onto a dock cart. I'm sure that was the heaviest load that dock cart ever carried.

When we pulled the engine across the aluminum gang plank to shore, there was noticeable bend in the gang plank. The marina crew suggested that I not cross with the motor, so that I would not add my own 100 Kg to the load on the gang plank.

Tomorrow we'll take the motor by truck to a machine shop in Acapulco, to have the motor overhauled.