F.V. 250 2004 engine location

romoni

Hello to you, I just bought a 2004 Festiva V 250 with the mercruiser 350 mag horizon (closed cool), with 300 hours on it. Very nice boat and I like it a lot but I am concerned about the lay out of the rear bulkhead, directly in front of the engine. Here is my question, how is anybody supposed to be able to change a raw water pump (under the alternator) fresh water pump, serpentine belt or pulleys on that engine,as the front of the engine is under the deck with the hatch open and a mere six inches from the bulkhead? do I have to cut an opening through the bulkhead wall to get to the front of the engine or pull the engine right out? Any comments or solution would be greatly appreciated.

212rowboat

Pulling the engine can be done in half an hour by a competent mechanic and with the right facilities... Not a big deal.  

****, I built a 2x6 brace and used a tackle powered by my trucks winch to **** mine out.... It took me likely ten hours from getting home from the lumber yard to having it constructed and the motor hanging from the manifold eye bolts... There isn't much to it.. 

212rowboat

Seriously?  Censored?  

H. E. L. L. .... Not really a bad word, fellas... But, okay... I can get some thinking otherwise.. 

S. N. A. T. C. H. ... To quickly grab... Okay, so it has a possible other meaning, but I've never heard it used outside some cheap pornography or outside the barracks... 

****, I snatched that engine out in ten hours from starting with a pile of lumber to it dangling from a tackle block and winch cable... was that really that bad?   

qwikwhip

I replaced my seawater pump and belt on my old 02 250FV, also with a 350mag, without removing the engine. Other than working upsidedown and slightly contorted, it wasn't that bad. Took a little over an hour.

andyd

A large hand held mirror is a must. It's a bit tough, but not impossible. Very much like a lot of cars, where you're just got a few inches between the front of the motor and the radiator. And we all know how fun it is to scrape knuckles against a radiator, right?

However if you are doing all the jobs you list, as another poster suggested, pulling the motor is routine, although it requires the boat to be out of the water and it'll cost you in labor. An empty engine bay allows other work too, cleaning the bilge, checking the bilge pump and switch, etc.

Andy

romoni

I am telling you guys, this engine compartment is wickedly small,especially with the intercooled system,thus I was contemplating making an access port or hole through the rear fire wall so that I could at least have access at the raw water pump or idlers etc. if needed. And I thought my 2150 Bayliner was tight!!!! Any thoughts?

MarkB

I would check whether your insurance company will be OK with you cutting a hole through the firewall. 

romoni

Yes, you are right on the insurance angle.You see,I just bought this boat and I like it very much, but it gonna be a freaking pain to get anything done especially to the front of the engine. I cannot imagine pulling the engine out to change a pump. This is really annoying, just faulty design.

andyd

You might might want to get a bigger boat, to quote the movie "Jaws." The FV250 is like a lot of sports cars with big motors shoehorned into the engine bay. The Shelby Cobra comes to mind, a big V8 in the space originally designed for a straight six.

Yes, pump and belt replacement is a pain, but not a reason for me to sell a boat I love, especially in light of the major problem I just dealt with. So working on the front of the engine is a chore, but not that bad in the scheme of things. A faulty design? Perhaps. I'd call it a compromise, where Rinker put more generous space in the cabin of a compact 25 foot boat and left little room for the mechanic.

Here's a tip. Removing the engine hatch isn't that hard. Then approach the front of the engine from the rear by laying down on the deck between the open engine hatch and the electrical panel. I'm 6'2" and this allows me a better view of the front of the motor, albeit it's not ideal and it is far from comfortable. As I posted before, a large mirror plus a good inspection lamp is a must.

Andy

andyd

FYI, I should have noted in my comments that I have Volvo Penta 5.0 power not Mercury in an '06 model boat. Although both VP and Mercury use small block GM motors, I'm unsure if my access is better or worse than with a Mercury due to placement of ancillary components, alternator, etc., and/or the relative lengths of the different outdrives.

Andy

romoni

Thanks for the reply Andy,but you see mine has got tne closed loop cooling system,which adds a lot of extra plumbing,not to mention the intercooler tank sits right on top of the serpentine belt and pully's assembly. But it will be all excellent I'm sure as soon as she hits the bay of chaleurs. Cheers.

69fastback

All of our boats are tight up there, so we get it. I would absolutely NOT cut a hole in the firewall. 

romoni

Hey 69 fastback,anything constructive to help me? And yes I will pull it out to get my servicing done.