Hoist engine to remove steering cable? 2001 Starcraft 176

[dishmaster333]

I'm battling a very resistant Teleflex 13415 cable. Sidewalls of the transom are very close to the 90hp mercury. So close that I can't back out the cable from the turn tube. The rigidity of the cable doesn't allow me to pull it forward. I think my final option is to hoist the engine. I will obviously need to insert the new cable, so cutting the cable won't solve all of my issues.

This will be my first time trying a hoist (2nd summer owning a boat - no ragrets). My driveway is quicksand. I might try some straps strung from a tree branch..

Hoping you guys could give me a sanity check. Am I missing anything here? This feels like overkill, but I don't see another option. The steering got progressively stiff last season and now it's a 2-hand whopper to turn.

 

[Chris1956]

I think you are very close to getting the steering cable off, w/o moving the engine. Disconnect the cable at the steering wheel end and pull some slack into the splashwell. Now see if you can get the steering rod out of the tilt tube.

If not, you can slide the engine to the port side and get the cable off. Be careful it doesn't fall off the transom.