The engine saga continues... and there is progress...over the past while the engine has been in and out of its hole a couple of times, nearly breaking Mack and Franklin's backs...
Fitting, measuring, aligning etc then out for fabrication and building... the rear motor mounts were usable however the forward ones did not line up so out they came and two new ones were built of wood and a bunch of fiberglass... you could probably lift the boat from these new mounts if you had to...
Then engine back in to fit and then out again to build spacers and other bits and then back in again and all the new and old bits attached ...mounts and shaft aligned and then engine bolted down... ( this is the short version )...
The fiberglass guy lived in that engine hole for 3 days and as you can see from the pictures grinding fiberglass makes dust that goes everywhere and sticks to everything...
We are cleaning every inch of the boat again...
But all in all the engine is now in and yesterday...St Val Day... we started it up ...no vibrations of any type, forward neutral and reverse ...woohoo... and all seemed to work very well... barring a couple of little leaks that we are now sorting out... but in all a good day ...however, my mind won't rest till this is all history and we are sitting at some anchorage with a fishing rod with no line in one hand, big hat and big rum in the other hand.... dozing....
Today we are starting the wiring and harnesses panel and sorting out the details, fixing parts that leaked, and making adjustments... which will probably take a few more days... but there is progress... there is a light at the end of the tunnel,...
It is in the wind that Jean will be joining us soon, if all goes as planned and the ducks all line up pretty... nothing pops out of line ...( i can't wait ) and then hopefully we will be out of here and sliding slowly south... with no more big boat work until the stuff we planned for the summer and fall in Trinidad
Apart from that all is well and the time continues to pass ...just noticed that we have been on board now for 8 months, total... away for 3 months... time flies...
More in time... Be happy everyone...
