Recap
After much deliberation and with the lingering effects of the pandemic causing delays in the delivery of our Beta Marine 43, we made the decision get the Perkins 4-108 running. Shortly after ordering a couple thousand dollars of Perkins parts we got the good news that the Beta Marine 43 had been delivered to Sausalito. The new engine promised enhanced performance and reliability. Plus the Beta Marine weighs less, had a smaller footprint and would be a quieter engine.
Removing the Perkins
We’d been planning to remove the Perkins for weeks, but hadn’t gotten around to it. Rich had to build a cart with wheels so we could get the engine from the boat to the top of the levee. We bought a chain hoist and straps and on July 4th weekend in 2022 Rich and I yanked the Perkins out. We had a lot of people offing to help, but that Saturday morning, almost on a whim, we decided just to do it ourselves.
Cleaning the Bilge
We have a pretty deep bilge. The deepest part is directly under the engine. There is usually some water in it from the stuffing box (it’s supposed to drip a little). With the Perkins there is also always oil in the bilge. We’ve never heard of anyone who has a Perkins that doesn’t leak oil. It’s just a known fact, like the sun rises in the east. So with the Perkins out of the boat, we got a good look at the bottom of the bilge. The last time we cleaned it out was when we removed the old water tank. Though it wasn’t as bad as the last time, it was still pretty black. We sucked all the oily water out and gave the entire area a good cleaning. Then painted it with a bilge paint.
Beta Marine 43 Delivery
So one day in June we drove a rented 1/2 ton truck to Sausalito to pick up our new engine. We’re lucky to be at Owl Harbor Marina. They helped us get the engine out of the truck with their Kabota tractor (ironic, right?). We’re also very lucky to have a friend that offered us the use of his trailer for as long as we needed. So the Beta went into the trailer until we could pull out the Perkins.
Pre-Installation
Engine Beds
Installing the Beta Marine 43 proved to be a significant undertaking. We had to modify the engine beds to ensure proper alignment with the propeller shaft, a crucial step to guarantee optimal performance and efficiency. The process required careful planning and expertise, ensuring a seamless transition to our new powerhouse. Luckily, Beta Marine West had a template we could use. And with Rich’s legendary “analness” we positioned the engine beds perfectly.
Hoisting the Beta Into the Boat
With the engine beds modified and ready, the next challenge was moving the engine to the dock and onto our boat. We enlisted the help of the marina staff and their Kabota tractor to transport the engine from its storage area to the dock.
Once the engine was at the dock, it was time to get it on board our boat. We utilized a chain hoist to carefully and safely maneuver the engine into its designated spot.
That was a huge job. Awesome. ❤️❤️❤️