One thing about cruising, when you think everything is working and you are ready to go, something inevitably goes awry and sets you back a few days or a few weeks. We have been pretty lucky with Frannie so I guess it was our turn. After launching we had a few systems to try out that couldn't be run on shore. Engine, check. Watermaker, check. Fridge and freezer, check after Junior added two driers to them, and last but not least our little Panda Generator. Crank, crank, crank, crank, crank and nothing. Our mechanic just happened to be here adjusting valves on our main engine so we asked Kevin what he thought. I got out the manual which might be the worst translation from German ever and started with the easy stuff. NO luck. Kevin called Raymond, the big gun, and he showed up shortly. After a compression check he deduced that we had BIG trouble. What was amazing was that Raymond is a BIG guy and the Panda is a little engine in a little box. Even my small fingers and body have trouble wrapping myself around it. In a matter of minutes, well maybe hours, Raymond had dismantled the head of the engine and taken out a totally pitted and burnt exhaust valve. I was terrified that he would never get the half of the engine that was dismantled into a bucket back together. I decided to make a quick trip to Miami to pick up the necessary parts. That way instead of a week or two waiting we'd have the parts in a few days. All worked out and in exactly one week, Ned had remodeled Panda's installation to avoid a saltwater problem and Raymond was back, shoehorning himself into that little compartment putting our trusty genset back together. With a little bit of prodding, using a can of bug spray as propellant, she fired right up. Raymond is our hero and lifelong friend now. The boys shared many a rum and coke to celebrate their success. A few days looking for weather and we should be off tomorrow. The frustration of things going wrong is balanced out by the wonderful local craftsmen we meet who are able to fix anything at a reasonable price and always have a big smile on their faces. Thanks Raymond, Kevin and Tour.