say I pull the outdrive and all i need is to pull the original small block and install the replacement. No wiring, fuel, alignment, nothing. I just don’t have the place to pull the engine out. How many hours would this be? What would be a fair price?

Get someone with a boom wrecker to come yank it out/set it in. Probably no more than $50 and a 12 pack for a tip.

ok, say a marine repair place does it, how long should it take?

I went thru this many times...

talked to several guys with booms. They aren’t interested unless your renting the truck and there time for half a day which were all in the ballpark of $400.

Regarding marina fee’s that will vary. If you are talking about doing the legwork and only using there truck for a few hours...I can imagine it still being a few hundred dollars. If your going to pay someone to actually do the work it’s a few hour job on top of equipment $450-650.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5e9030cc6.jpeg

If I remember, it was about 350 $ for the whole weekend. Worked great. If you rent one, just make sure it’s lifting capacity will do the job.

I called ten tow truck companies and none of them would help. I bought a chain hoist from harbor freight for like $60 and it worked brilliantly.

I used the same chain hoist hanging from the bucket of the excavator, that way the lift was under control. Once out of the boat, I was able to move the motors and set them down where ever I wanted.

You don't have or know of anyone with an oak tree. Or any hard wood tree at that. Works fine.... At one point in my life I was shopless and garage door was not tall enough to back boat in garage. Otherwise if you have a garage you can always get a 12' 4x6 and catch as many trusses as you can. Depending on the span and center to center on the trusses not a bad idea to run a vertical 4x4 from floor to truss for extra support. Once set up 1/2 hour tops to pull it. Check with some friends or relatives. Just need to make sure the height is good.

To directly answer the OPs question it cost me $800 to have a tech yank the engine and drop in a new one. I had done as much of the derigging as I could.

I need to go on the road and start a new business. When I bought my 12 meter I had both engine out and on the shop floor in exactly 3 hours by myself. ssm drives didn't need pulling. Reinstall will likely take another 1 1/2 hours. Don't like to rush reinstall and double check everything. Over the years I've R&R a bunch.

I can completely understand the cost at certified merc shop as there's a lot of overhead etc. That list is long.

Where you at in Michigan?

I've got a couple of lots over on tip. There's gotta be a member over there who would be willing to give you a hand. There's nothing to it. If you were closer and wanted to haul it to the NW side I'd do it for a 12 pack. Always willing to help another OSO member when able.

thanks for the offer. When i get it Back home in a couple weeks I will take a better look at it. Anyone know if the hatch needs to come off in order to pull the engine on a 242?

I believe so unless it will hinge back far enough without hitting railing etc. My spectra I could flip all the way back without issues. PM endevour32 when you get a chance. He had engines in and out of his 242 and can let you know the good, bad and uglies.

With an ibeam you'd be able to just lift and pull engine to side without removing hatch.

What the? I'm concussed with your post #13. Lol...

If you’re confused now you should watch me work on my boat, lol.

I bought the boat with a bum engine and paid a shop to swap it. The second time I yanked it myself.