The new engine is now mounted!

Up pretty early but stayed onboard. Feeling a bit stressed after the email from the Marina which was spoken of last post. Texted Chris to see if there were any jobs which we had planned that required we be on the hard to complete. He thought a couple of the tasks would be easy before launch and asked if Saturday would be a good day for him to drop round. He explained that the Marina has been in contact with him, so that is likely where they got my email.

Played some Shroud of the Avatar to chill my stress for a bit. Drank some coffee which may not have helped and finished off last night's pizza which left me somewhat ready for the day.

Checked Jason's latest email which took me to a site where a log of my hours can be created and updated by any skipper that takes me as crew, In this way we will be able to log the hours spent being instructed by Jason. The site also offers some free online course which remain available for 30 days in order to complete. Thought to hold off until things are a little more settled and the engine installation is behind us before starting.

Jason also explained how accreditation worked. Perhaps it can be explained in more detail at a later date; yet my needs will require 28 hours of instruction and passing an examination. Those house will be logged at the site Jason pointed me towards.

Jose arrived around 9am and Wil made it on the scene at which point thee engine mount creation/modifications began. It was slow moving yet a very solid mount came together. Wil does great with the generator, portable welding set and a picnic table with some clamps.

Will that be fries with that 1/4" steel?

Tried to hunt down the old throttle system to no avail. Even checked the storage under the forward berth, which did not come up with the throttle yet some wetness was detected at the very bow. My guess is that it worked its way down from the anchor storage compartment. Hugh, the surveyor, had mentioned that the cover should be fastened down tight which it is not at present. With the boat not exactly plumbed at the moment it is hard to say if it needs further attention or simply needs water to be able to run off normally with as tight a closed covering as possible. Something to keep an eye on.

Same with the mid hatch that had been a suspect leak around my arrival. It looks like its run off may be running the wrong way due to the boat's incline as well. Again something to watch. The rains were the tail end of hurricane Beyrl. An incredibly downpour. Hopefully some one of a kind spillages.

As the day progressed the mount took shape. Just after high noon Wil the Welder had completed his task and it would be time for engine mounting. Paid Wil and thanked him for his service. Was planning to get a pic of Wil's nomadic metal shop yet he was too fast with the breakdown so that once things were finished on the boat he had dissembled his shop by the time of my arrival.

Everyone headed off for some noon time snacks. While over to the Marina's take out found that my course book had arrived. Not sure if the details of how to login online where not included. Will have a close look through the book tonight.

With the mount finished Jose and Jr. dived into the job. Having the proper tools and know how it's amazing what can be accomplished. By 4pm the new, yet unnamed, member of the family was securely installed and aligned up perfectly with the propeller shaft. The boys called the end of a hard work day.

Jose said that he would return at noon, or a little later, tomorrow and we can go around and pick up the needed parts and hoses to finish the job. Of course the pièce de resistance will be the throttle and gear sticks. The old ones have still not materialized. We will see what tomorrow may bring.

May the wind be at your back!