Sailing the Karina C

03/11
Disaster. I am now getting too old for this biz. Mistake 1 was connecting bank 1 backwards. That blew the terminals off bank 2 (which was totaled as of last spring anyway). So, we survived mistake 1 with little extra damage. Mistake 2: Today we started up the engine. It started almost immediately. I let it run for 5 minutes and shut her down to go for breakfast. After breakfast, Anita noticed running water in the engine. After a little investigation, I noticed it was water running out of the air intake (not a good sign). Water had run up the exhaust and through the manifold and into the cylinders. This error will await the mechanic this afternoon. With a little luck, I have not bent a conrod and we should be OK. In the meantime, I have got all the rig up and inspected. All is good with that anyway. I can't wait to learn what stupid thing I can do next. The mechanic comes at 1500 and, with a little luck he should have the thing running by supper.
The heat here in the yard makes work in the afternoons impossible for my Canadian constitution. The Mexicans can have this place. At least in Canada you can put a jacket on and get back to work again.
The ###$&&^ folks at Parker marine sold me the wrong thermostat for the outboard. After phoning Canada to get the model of the outboard (as the tags had withered in the heat), I went back to the Yamaha folks here to be told that the model didn't exist. After a few seconds I asked, "Are you using an American catalogue?" By the time they cross referenced the part, it was determined the part didn't exist here or in Guaymas. So, I put the cover plate on the cooling jacket and wrote off another hour of labour. I hate mechanical and electrical things. Gimme an old wood boat with wick lights, no engine rope rigging.....
Anita was a fabulous gopher (go 'fer) all morning. Encouraging me all the way. After all the mechanical and electrical disasters, my confidence is shaken a bit. I talked to Heinz on SKYPE and he seemed to think that, once the water comes out, it will work fine. I have been away from boat systems for over a year, so I guess I have to give myself a few errors.