Well, a month has gone by in Rock Hall and our budget
is shot, but we have a working engine and we plan to depart tomorrow. Tom, the
mechanic here at Gratitude, did an amazing job fitting the new, larger engine
in the old spot. A larger exhaust and water intake made for a real challenge as
did lifting the engine bed an inch and a half. To add a degree of difficulty,
Yanmar reversed the side of the engine on which the exhaust exits. They have
also switched to an alternator driven tachometer, so the tach reads 100-400 rpm
higher than the engine really runs due to retrofitting our high-output Balmar
alternator. Yanmar also switched to a new tachometer that isn’t adjustable.
Sounds like they don’t want other alternators on their engines. The sea-trial
was Friday and yesterday Tom realigned the engine to the prop shaft.
Spare parts should arrive today, so we hope to leave in the morning. Our
plans are to explore the bay for the first 50 hours of engine break-in time,
return to Rock Hall for the mandatory adjustments, then re-evaluate our plans.
Let’s hope Ernesto drops in intensity and doesn’t ruin Labor Day weekend.
is shot, but we have a working engine and we plan to depart tomorrow. Tom, the
mechanic here at Gratitude, did an amazing job fitting the new, larger engine
in the old spot. A larger exhaust and water intake made for a real challenge as
did lifting the engine bed an inch and a half. To add a degree of difficulty,
Yanmar reversed the side of the engine on which the exhaust exits. They have
also switched to an alternator driven tachometer, so the tach reads 100-400 rpm
higher than the engine really runs due to retrofitting our high-output Balmar
alternator. Yanmar also switched to a new tachometer that isn’t adjustable.
Sounds like they don’t want other alternators on their engines. The sea-trial
was Friday and yesterday Tom realigned the engine to the prop shaft.
Spare parts should arrive today, so we hope to leave in the morning. Our
plans are to explore the bay for the first 50 hours of engine break-in time,
return to Rock Hall for the mandatory adjustments, then re-evaluate our plans.
Let’s hope Ernesto drops in intensity and doesn’t ruin Labor Day weekend.
The weekend in Rock Hall gave us the opportunity to
meet some of the ever helpful members of the Island Packet email discussion
list. Hayden & Radeen Cochran graciously hosted a party at Spring Cove
where we met many of the resident IP owners that we have conversed with
over the internet for the last three years. Noah enjoyed the snacks and
was treated to reading time with Claire Gabor and Radeen Cochran.
Noah and Beth have been catching up on school work
that was missed during the Maine vacation. Finished up week four yesterday with
a day of tests. Today’s science class was on animal parts and we chose to study
crabs which we caught on the dock pilings. Noah identified parts, drew a nice
picture, and convinced me to throw back the females. The remaining
crabs are steaming in the galley as I type this.
that was missed during the Maine vacation. Finished up week four yesterday with
a day of tests. Today’s science class was on animal parts and we chose to study
crabs which we caught on the dock pilings. Noah identified parts, drew a nice
picture, and convinced me to throw back the females. The remaining
crabs are steaming in the galley as I type this.