Sue Klumb (s/v Orion) came over today and figured out what I did wrong (see previous Blog entry below). So, hopefully that's behind me. By using a new iPad program, Blogsy, I hope to resurrect "The Adventures..." Plus, my mentor and nemesis, Rob Dehaan, sold s/v Arita, hasn't made a blog entry since December, and has been consumed and distracted by his new purchase and renovation of s/v Southern Comfort. Really his blog (to my knowledge he has not created a new one (Cruising on Southern Comfort ?) as yet: stay tuned as it will be a smashing one when he does.
A lot has transpired since last I wrote. We are still in Culebra, Puerto Rico and are still in the throws of olde, abused Volvo engines. A year ago we tried to head for the Classic Boat Race again in Antigua, but only made it to St. Thomas, USVI, 17 miles E as our port engine over-heated and cr..ped out. $2,000 Later we came back to Culebra, went to Fajardo on the mainland, returned half way and lost the port engine again. So, brilliant me decides to have it rebuilt; best place according to the worldwide web is in Maine, so off she goes. Turns out the head was warped again as were the cylinders: $12,000 to rebuild. Back to square two and find a used one on eBay for $4,500. Won the bid (I was the only bidder; should have told me something) and began the wait for the engine to start in CA. After 6 weeks we decided we'd been more than patient, cancelled the order, and decided to buy new Yanmar diesels with new sail drives. Ouch!!! Anyway given we plan to sail via Panama and Galapagos to Australia, having new, dependable, worry free engines makes the most sense: duh! Now we wait for the Miami dealer to deliver the engines to Puerta del Rey so we can haul-out and have them installed. While there, what the heck, let's paint the bottom, paint the top side, lengthen the sugar scoops on the stern, and do other various and sundry goodies.
Here we sit in paradise waiting, waiting... More next time.
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| at old ferry dock with engine on stern |
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| Port engine out and on stern |
