Once I got that line off and could actually back up, I thought things would begin to look up. No! The boat would not back around to port, to go bow out. I only had reverse on the left engine and it refused to turn that way, I did not have enough rudder. So I was stuck halfway with no way to turn the boat to the left.
I tried using different combinations I had available but nothing seemed to work except to let the boat go around to right and back out. So that is what I did. Of course it did not want to back straight but continually pulled the boat to starboard, the side with no reverse. Fortunately there was enough room to back around in a kind of a half circle and eventually get out of there. This was in a calm, not sure what I would have done with any wind!
0700-Arrival at Beaver Park North went much smoother. I was prepared with every fender board I had and lines run. Two guys were waiting for me at the dock and I slid in with no issues. Glad to be at the dock.
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| NARROW ENTRANCE FACING NORTH DAY I WAS TO COME IN THE WAVES WERE 4 FEET AND WIND WAS 25 KTS FROM THE NORTH, NO REVERSE ON ONE ENGINE, DECLINED TO COME IN, GLAD I DIDN'T! |
Mike and Casey went immediately to work and removed the old engines pretty quick. They lifted them by hand. Strung all the cables and harnesses with no issues.
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| ENGINES REMOVED FROM WELLS |
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| OLD ENGINES LOOKING REJECTED |
1000-While Mike went back to their South Marina to ready the engines, Casey got under the boat in a kayak and after great difficulty was able to reconnect the centerboard. He said he would not be anxious to do it again!
Meanwhile Mike discovered Snafu #1, the new ignitions have a choke, the old ones didn't so the ignition panels were not the same. However, Mike came up with a solution using two switches for the choke in place of the old dead-man's switches on the old ignition plates. I previously disconnected them back in 2012 when I went to an electrical man over board system called AutoTether. Looks like Mike's solution should work.
1130-They brought over the new engines and got them ready to mount and brought in the crane to lift them into position and immediately ran into Snafu #2 which was that the mounting plates of the old engines were 1/2" too narrow. New plates needed to be fabricated and welded to the sliding mount.
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| ATTEMPT TO INSTALL THE STARBOARD ENGINE, SNAFU #2 WAS DISCOVERED. ENGINE MOUNT BOLT HOLES DID NOT MATCH THE NEW, 1/2 " DIFFERENCE! |
1330-A welder was found that had the stainless steel plate and could fabricate and weld the pieces needed today. We are awaiting the parts as I type this.
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| DRY SLIPS BOATS ARE LAUNCHED ON DEMAND |
1500-Welder did the work, the crew fastened the mounts, crane lifted the engines into place. Now hooking up cables and harnesses. Although I mention only two snafus, there were at least five to six. I only listed the more serious ones. This team was very professional and just kept on going when they were thrown a loop!
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| SERIOUS CRANE OPERATION |
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| SECOND ATTEMPT AT PLACING THE STARBOARD ENGINE |
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| INSTALLING THE PORT ENGINE |
1600-Bill, the owner of South, took me to a propane fill station so I got the spare filled. Will have plenty of propane for this trip.
1700-Finished engines, everything seems to work. Everyone in the complex in a leadership role, and some that didn't came by to check things out and pass on greetings. Very gracious folks. The place has been in one family nearly 100 years!
1800-All panels are back in place, all gear back in their respective garages (aft cabins). Need to clean myself up and get something to eat.
1930-Went over to the restaurant to eat and the brothers who own North and South both came by to greet me one more time. Very nice folks. I will be out of here at O'dark thirty in the morning!
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