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deep to use the yard’s haul-out facility. The job defaulted to Plan
B – a DIY, self-install.
“Even though I tend to the yacht’s maintenance needs
myself – oil changes, filters and fan-belts – by no stretch of the
imagination could I call myself a marine engineer. An engine
swap was a fairly daunting prospect. Fortunately, I’m semi-
retired so I have plenty of flexibility.
“Part of the logic in going with another Volvo is that the
new engine has a virtually identical footprint – I didn’t have to
worry about altering the engine bed or the mounts. The bigger
engine came with a bigger sail-drive, but again, this unit slotted
seamlessly into the existing mounting. And I could use the
existing throttle and gear cables.”REMOVING THE OLD ENGINE
A key component of Leydon’s strategy was minimising costs
and hard-stand time. This shaped his approach to engine
removal and replacement – the swap would take place with the
boat in the water at her Gulf Harbour berth. Only the sail-drive
changeover would require a brief haul-out.
The first part of the operation proceeded smoothly. A $75
come-along from Repco helped to coax the old engine forward
off its bed and into the saloon. Leydon then used the yacht’s
boom to lift the 180kg engine through the companionway, into
the cockpit and then over the side and on to a pallet on the pier
alongside. It was sold to a chap who needed it to complete a
repower of his catamaran.LEFT Lifting the new engine into
Sweet Disorder.
BELOW The yacht had to be hauled
out to receive her new sail-drive.