OtherGoose: In the boat yard

Saturday May 18 2;30 pm

Why, you are asking, am I wasting time on the internet when I should be helping to install the new drive?

Well, because the old drive is half off...we got over here at 8:30 am waited for the USGC to get their boat out of the slip so we could be lifted. Finally around 9:30 we were hauled and dropped in the corner of the yard. And we started...got everything disconnected, started to drain the old oil. I pulled the lower plug and it spurted all over me.

As the tide started to change Rick went to the dock to move the dinghy. There was a steel rod standing in the middle of the bay and it went through thebottom of the dinghy, so we took off the motor and the gas can, and moved them up under the boat. We were going to wait 'til the tide lifted a little so we can roll the dinghy up on the fenders. Another 24 hour repair job. They said we could put it in the garage but we can't carry it that far. It weight 120 lbs. We'll find a dolly of some sort to move it.

Good plan, right? So we returned to start lifting off the drive and the mother of a thunderstorm hit...we are getting massive amounts of rain...hoping that the gravel we are sitting on is stable. It's hot as hell in the boat because of the outside temperature; the motor cover is off so Rick can reach all the coupling and drive attachments and sitting under a tarp to prevent the insulation getting get and the new drive is lying on the work bench waiting to be assembled [in the rain].

And now we are waiting for it to stop raining so we can finish taking off the old drive and start putting the new one on. And we are paying by the day for yard space....but no power [our cord won't reach...we need to borrow one], no bathroom [a port-a-potty so I'll use mine thanks] and an artesian well outdoor shower behind the shed -- no walls or door-- at the clapboard fence along the road [maybe I'll just wait 'til I get back to Canada...or go stand in the cold rain].

So by 6:00 the rain stopped. We got the drive off; prepped the dinghy for patching while the wooden plate under the old drive dried up a bit; patched the dinghy and covered it and put the new drive in place. At 8:30 we were done and ready for supper. Luckily I had left overs from the night before...rice chicken and veggies. We were asleep by 9:15.

Today we will hook up the couple to the motor; install the hydraulic lift and the lock system, then test the drive for alignment. If we're lucky, everything will fall into place. Probably not get launched today because of the fiddling to adjust the rudder control with the new drive and then get all the tools and stuff re-stowed; pack the old drive and put it somewhere, so we expect Monday unless they work Sundays here but not likely...it's a work yard, not a marina.

Last night I dreamt we were at home working already. Not sure how much more fun I can stand!