West Wind: Bringing back the 70's....

For a while now, since getting the boat, I've been investigating what engine upgrades I might consider in the future. It started off life in the early 70's with a 50hp Johnson (pull start), and then in 1986 it got a new Johnson 70hp fitted (electric). This remained the setup until last week - don't get me wrong - it was a great setup for years!

The research came down to 2 main points:
- it had to be over 100hp
- it had to be of an age that would be in keeping with the boat (early-mid 70's)

The only engine that I knew of in the country that fitted the bill was a 1979 140hp Mercury inline 6 that was sitting on a Phantom 16 in a warehouse at O'Sullivans Marine of Tralee.
So a few weeks ago I found the boat and engine advertised on their website (advertised with the wrong details I might add, so it took a few more clicks to find it ).
After a few emails to and from Brian, I decided to bite the bullet and get serious about a trade. However, on the same day, with the help of Clinton Marine Services, I managed to sell the Johnson to an interested party (delivered the next day). So 2 days later I arrived in Tralee to lift the Merc into the back of the car (it took 3 of us!) and a box of parts and was back on the road within the hour.

That was last Saturday, and this afternoon Clinton Marine Services got the Merc onto that back of West Wind.

There's a few more hours of 'plumbing' to do, but already looking forward to the end result and getting a spin out in the coming weeks.

So a huge thanks must go out to Brian and Morris in O'Sullivans for their help in removing and lifting the engine, and of course the sale!

The help from Clinton Marine Services has been fantastic thoughout. From providing direct knowledge of the engine's history, to removing and selling the old engine, to making the time this week to fit it all up and getting it all running again.
They might be shy, but I managed to get a photo of them when they weren't looking...... Cheers lads!