Gary and Pepper volunteered to go for a short hop across the channel to the Point Defiance Fuel dock. (Pretty brave!!!)

As Gary was piloting us out of Gig Harbor, I was down below checking out the engine... It smelled HOT with nasty anti-freeze, so I pulled the engine panels off to find a leaky fitting. After some searching around the boat for the lost part, I was able to locate it and install it... back in business!

We were outside the harbor and Gary wanted to see what the old girl could do, so he opened up the throttle and THICK SMOKE started coming out of the exhaust!!!!!! All I could think of was my motor blowing up and having to call the Coast Guard to come get us........ But, after an eternity the smoke went away and the diesel started purring and away we went!!!! THANK GOD!!!! :)

It was a beautiful day heading across the channel. No real wind to speak of and the tide was pretty much slack. I let Gary have fun at the helm almost the whole way across, while I played with all the gadgets!!! Like the radar, chatrtplotter etc.... :)

So, some issues that surfaced on this test run: The drive shaft dripless seal is leaking big time! It throwing water everywhere! The autopilot freaked out and would not hold a course. The speed gauge is dead. what else????? Oh! The automatic bilge pump isn't working in the auto mode... It pumped out about 30 seconds of water on the manual mode.

Looks like I have a bit of work cut out before I head out.... Plus, I'm still waiting on the replacement parts for the radar mount.

All in All, it was a really awesome day on the water! We didn't sink the boat, didn't catch anything on fire, and especially didn't HIT anyone!! ya!

I'll post a couple more photos is my computer doesn't die first.