New engine is in Vancouver, awaiting customs clearance. Far Cove gets hauled
tomorrow at 9:30am so I can replace the cutlass bearing before the new engine
gets installed. Drilling the hole for the exhaust thruhull as well (old one was
1 1/4" fg, new one is 1 3/4" bronze), and running new fuel lines, which will be
MUCH easier without the engine in the way.

Then, at 9:00am Sat, the new engine arrives! Dealer Robert will pull out the old
one (which is now sitting on the galley sole so I could get at the stringers and
rebuild them) and drop in the new one. While he's adjusting, aligning, bolting,
etc., I'll be replacing the head seacock (remember that? The one that jammed so
I had to use the sink thruhull for the holding tank?).

If all goes well, the engine will be bolted down by Sat night. (Stage I
Complete!). Sunday I'll install the exhaust thruhull, the new 1" raw-water hoses
and vacuum-break (old one was 5/8"), fuel lines, throttle/shift/stop levers, and
anything else I have time for. Oh, and compress the shaft seal so it won't leak.

Monday morning, she goes back in. I do as much as I have time for, then take the
exhaust riser measurements to Mac's Industrial and Marine Exhaust so they can
weld up a SS riser for me.

Next weekend, in goes the riser, all the other stuff gets complete, checklist
checked, fluids checked, and...fire her up! (Stage II Complete!)

Then there's all the fiddley-bits: strap all the wiring and hoses neatly, run
the vent hoses, replace all the panels, put tools away, clean up...basically
turn it back into a boat instead of a "project". Also get Robert down to do a
final alignment. (Stage III Complete!)

Then, (once I've taken her out a few times for "sea-trials"), I think I'll head
out at 8:00 am and see where I get to by 5pm. Spend the night there, then turn
around and motor home. Unless, of course, the wind is REALLY nice...

Does it look like I'm excited about this new engine?

Too bad Chuck's taken a sabbatical - we could exchange New Engine stories!

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36