Spencer
11/03/2009, Oriental

Today's project was installing red LED's low in the pilot house, by the stairs, in the head and over the galley counter. They are all on one switch and will be great for maintaining our night-vision while underway after sunset.

The official word is that the engine is HERE! It arrive just moments ago and I will be meeting Stanley at 0830 to help get it ready for installation and transport to the boat yard in Oriental.

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Spencer
11/03/2009, Oriental

Here you can see the new water-lift muffler and shaft. The stuffing box was cleaned up with a bead blaster and looks great.

The white, Starboard platforms are where I install my various bilge pumps.

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Spencer
11/03/2009, Oriental

Here is a look at our new exhaust thru-hull. It's a beauty and larger than our original - 3 inches! That's what our engine required, so that's what we have. I wasn't expecting the flap, but like it.

I should be getting my eyes on our new engine today - it is due to arrive by truck at the Beta Marine distributor and I will be there to help with attaching it to our rebuilt Velvet Drive transmission and installing our new 120 Amp alternator.

This may not happen until Wednesday, depending on what time it arrives... I'm waiting for the call.

The boat yard here will receive it on Thursday morning and they plan to crane it aboard and bolt it down. I will complete the rest of the installation.

The big development is that the mechanic didn't realize that we had a metric taper on our prop shaft, so we now need a new prop. We took this as a sign and ordered what we've always wanted, a Max-prop. We ordered a 22 inch, three blade prop, which will be 2 inches larger than our fixed one. I feel that we will now be a super motor-sailor. Able to motor through strong head winds at hull speed and able to sail quietly and fast in most winds.

The prop will cause us to be here about two more weeks.

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Spencer
10/30/2009, Oriental

Here's the always interesting shot from near the top of the mast. Of note are the kayaks that I have mounted on the outside of the stanchions and the remains of the old Treadmaster. I knew that if I mounted the kayaks there, we would be getting hauled out soon! They will have to be moved back inside, but I think this just might be their normal 'underway' stowage location.

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Spencer
10/30/2009, Oriental

Here is a look at the mast head. I replaced the spinnaker and staysail halyard blocks and ran new lines through. It was slow going, since I don't like being up there without two lines or a helper nearby. The next time I go up, I will be able to use the spinnaker halyard as a safety line.

I also adjusted the lazy jacks. I need to do the same adjustments on the mizzen one day.

The word is that the engine will be in NC on Tuesday and should be at the boat yard by Thursday morning. The water-lift muffler arrived today and we are on the schedule to be hauled out first thing Monday to have the new exhaust and prop shaft installed. We will then go back in the water and should be ready to have the engine installed on Thursday. I plan to make all the fuel and electrical connections and if all goes well, we'll have a test run on Friday and be able to get back to New Bern.

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