[Rhodes22-list] Removing motor for repair

[James Barron]

Many thanks to all who responded to our question about getting one of the 
larger outboards off our boat for repair.

JB, Mary Lou, Jay, Robert, and Alan--all of you had useful advice.  As a 
result:

1.  Since I do not know the history of care for my seven year old motor, I 
am going to have it fully serviced and winterized this fall, then follow 
the detailed advice provided by Jay to keep the carb in good shape.  Much 
of that advice is not in the manual.

2.  For this year I found a dealer who will work on the motor without my 
taking it off the boat, and I will trailer it in to him.

3.  I am probably going to buy an outboard cart.  For next winter,  I may 
rig a hoist to my garage ceiling to get the motor from the transom to the 
cart, but will need to do some measuring to find out the height when the 
boat is on the trailer.  If that does not work, I know of a launching ramp 
that has a tall mast crane ( I suspect there is another name for this), and 
it would work for the motor also. It is a three hour drive, though, to get 
there and back.

4.  If I ever have to take the motor off during the season, I will find or 
pay several large people to help me.  I am afraid of damaging the mast/boom 
rigging even to use it as a safety line.

I thought there might be some secret easy way to do this, but I dislike 
"asking for directions."  I am sure one of these will work.  Thanks again.

Jim Barron