Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Yeah, I know this is a kinda dumb question, but I've never had a new motor before.

It's in a metal-framed "crate". So... maybe not really crated as much as it is caged.
Takes up a lotta room laying down like this. The cage doesn't look like it's made to be stood on end and to be honest, if it's the least bit flimsy AND top heavy.... that would concern me.

I know this motor has a lifting ring installed, but... can't get the cowl off while it's surrounded by the metal cage. It LOOKS like the cage can be dismantled. I mean, parts of it are spot welded, but it looks like the corners are tabbed and could be knocked off. The part that the motor is actually bolted to is welded and bolted and appears pretty substantial.

Do you normally just dismantle the cage so you basically end up with a metal "pallet" with the motor bolted to it?

The metal frame should be bolted at the base of the frame. Unbolt them and lift the frame off then you have access to remove the cowling.

I've got a Yamaha that I too need to uncrate.

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2199/2 ... 543344.jpg

Hmmm....if it were me, I'd move it to where I planned to hoist it for mounting on the pontoon. Stand it upright and put tension on the lifting ring with a come-along....then I'd cut the frame away with a sawzall and proceed to mount it....I know you said you wanted to let it sit all winter, but IMHO it would be better to get it done now in case you run into any unforeseen problems in mounting it....

I agree with the above. I use a circular saw or a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder with a carborunum blade or metal cutting blade to cut steel. It'd whip through that metal in about 5 seconds each.

Not your exact setup but similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScvqgPsbNI4

No need to cut anything. Knock the top corner braces off... or pry them off, and then all the individual side frames peel away. MUCH more room, surprisingly, without the box and metal frame.

And I CAN'T hang it on the boat yet. I have to rebuild the transom. Just waiting for the guy who bought the 2-stroke to come get it, then the transom comes out so I can make the new one. On the one hand, I'd love to hang it and be done with it. On the other hand, the boat's going to sit outside all winter.

IF.... I get the transom done and it's ready for a motor...
AND IF... it looks like we'll get enough decent weather for me to crawl around running cables, etc... I might still hang it before the snow flies.

I got some machine-mover dolly casters under the power head end. I can move it around. If nothing else, in spring I shove it out of the garage, put it on an engine hoist, lift, unbolt it from the crate, and then have the boat right there so I just spin the motor around and set it on the transom. If it sits in the garage all winter, so be it. As far as "wasting the warranty", I'd be doing that just the same if it was sitting in my driveway not being used because it's too cold. So "wasting the warranty" is going to happen regardless. And pretty soon they'll be lowering the water in the canal and closing it for the season. So as bad as I want to run this thing, it's just not realistic.

AND.... this is just one of many other things I gotta get done. So.... it is what it is.
Nice to have it uncrated though. And the lifting ring on this thing is really stout! and...