[Standing Room Only]

Rich -- just mounted a 150 HPDI about 475 lbs - very similar to your size/weight. I rebuilt and raised the transom, and used an engine hoist I have to life the engine by its lift rings. Then mounted it to a jack-plate. The jack-plate was great because I was able to center it on the transom (vertical + horizontal -- be careful you measure right), then adjust the height once the engine was on. Pretty simple. If you don't use a jackplate, it can be hard to get the holes to line-up. when the engine is hanging --, release the hydraulic lift and 'push' the mount plate so it is parallel to the transom -- otherwise you end up pushing the entire engine at an angle to mount -- not needed. Be sure to use a template you make from the engine for the holes. The $180 jackplate removed the pain for me with the bonus of tuning my engine height -- only down was putting the engine back 6 inches. Use safety straps in case the primary straps/lines break. Good luck -- and don't use a tree, etc. they will break, and that is a lot of $$ to risk.