Paul Wiggins wrote:
I need to build a contraption to remove two large, old, heavy engines.
(1968 CC 427's).

The boat is on stands and there's no way I know of to get a boom up,
over and inside the wheelhouse.

So... I'm considering building tripods on either side of the
wheelhouse... running a metal I beam thru the windows over the
engines... lifting... placing them a wooden bed... sliding the engine
back to the rear... where a small crane can lift out.

The question I have is.. what to build the tripods out of... 4x4's our
of sistered 2x4's? Something beefier...

I recall reading somewhere they weight in at 1700lbs.

many thanks.

1700 lbs seems waaaaaaay heavy for such engines. I bet you could do it
easier by simply levering them up, stacking boards underneath, finally
getting it onto a bed of boards where you can litle by little "walk" it
to clear air. Make a ramp outa 2 4X4s and use a come-along to hoist it
up and out of cabin or whereever it is.
I actually did this but it was with a much smaller diesel.