| SJ23 Tech Tip D01, (Updated 2024-05-14) Bob Schimmel | |
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Easy Outboard Lift. |
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Have
you ever tried to raise your outboard by hand, from waaay down there? Reaching down can be
a daunting task, especially when you're pooped out after pulling the starter cord a zillion times. It gets even worse in hot weather. More than one pair of glasses has slipped
from a shirt pocket to end up in the drink. The photo below
would be the last view of your glasses as you hear them go plunk!
I am so glad that Panache has electric start and a gear shift extender (not shown below) that goes up over the transom. One of these days I'll figure out how to extend the START and STOP switches up to the transom or gear shift extender.
I have seen lots of elderly (and some lazy) skippers sailing with a prop dragging in the water which doesn't do any good for the sailing reputation of an SJ23. I can understand the situation for an aging sailor, but for the rest.... If the outboard accidently dropped while sailing, it can be a real effort to raise it in a heaving seaway due to the motion. To solve these day to day problems I connected a 4x1 block and tackle between Panache's pushpit leg and the handle of the outboard (just aft of the lift bracket handle). Alternatively you can fasten the top block to an eye mounted on the transom. The bottom dual block is equipped with a jam cleat that has the free end of the line existing upward towards me in the cockpit.
There is an additional benefit to this arrangement. When the locking cam on my original outboard mount was worn it sometimes had a nasty habit of releasing. The resulting crash sounded like it would rip the transom off. To prevent this I pulled the free end of the lift line around the pushpit leg then tied it around the block and tackle with a slip knot. This locked the outboard securely in the raised position. I still use this method when the boat is in her slip. NOTE: The clamshell intake vent shown on the top of the starboard transom keeps the bilge area under the cockpit nice and dry with fresh air. An aft facing exhaust vent is mounted on the port side. This orientation helps to keep gas fumes out. Each vent is equipped with a bug screen. I have never smelled gasoline fumes under the cockpit. See Tech Tip C19. The new installation at right incorporates 1/4" line. |
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Raising or lowering the outboard
with the blocks requires less effort than pulling the outboard up by hand. The reach is certainly shorter. This is an absolute godsend
for a heavy outboard that is mounted far away from the transom and is almost out of reach in the drive position. Never mind when you
are tired. 
6:1 Block-n-Tackle (2024) - I changed the lift line block and tackle from 4:1 to 6:1 to overcome the initial resistance of lifting the outboard. Triple blocks would be have been nice but are difficult to source in this small size. They are also difficult to fit within the tighter confines of the outboard up in the stored or sailing position. By adding two single blocks beside the existing dual blocks the assembly fits nicely.