It's 11:30 at night and I have just sat down after dinner. I want to put down what I am thinking while it is fresh. I had a pretty hellish weekend paint stripping and sanding the hull. So the strategy for Monday morning was to take a brake from the sanding. Last time the boat was out of the water, I discovered that the zinc anode had pretty well had it but because it is special to Nicholson 32's I couldn't just bolt one on from the local shop. This time I was prepared but the bolts had suffered corrosion damage and needed replacing. Oh dear. Well I had managed to get them out and I had some 10mm stainless steel threaded bar on hand. Easy, I just had to get some dude to solder on two square plates. Otherwise it was just a simple bolt it either side of the deck with a bit of gunk(sikaflex) to seal the job. I figure this was a nice clean job. It involved a bit of hacksaw work cutting the two bolts, a trip to the local shop for washers and bolts. I also asked at the shop where I could get some metal work done. The co-op down the road. I should have known. They drilled out my sailomat bolt not just 4 months ago.
Rocked up there. Literally a 200 meter walk from the shop. I had worked out previously drawing and the necessary Spanish to start the ball rolling. Estoy buscando alguin que puede hacer este. I am looking for someone who can make this. Holding the old version from the boat. The bloke there was very obliging. Did the whole job right in front of me for only 6 euros. Result! Of note was the wooden frame fishing boat that was being built at the end of the shed and two appearances from the Ninja Canaria Cowboy(one of my bodge it crew). Watching him makes me smile. I had seen him on Saturday haggle with a shop assistant and then throw down 5 blades and a 10 euro note for the hack saw and blade he scampered out of the shop. This time he rolled into the co-op without so much as a hello to the guy working there and starting arc welding a piece of steel. He came in a second time and cut a bit of 10 mm bar. He did it with aplomb. Slamming the bar under the blade and slamming his eyes shut. I wish I knew his name. He cracks me up watching him work. He was good enough to ask if everything was ok and I said yes!
Well I got back to the yard about 12 with two prefab bolts, square pieces of metal welded on and they fit perfectly into the moulded countersunk anode slot on the hull. Brilliant. Job done. The old anode was completely depleted and had literally been hanging by a thread on each bolt. Still no sign of Pepe and the engine gang. I headed into town to get more special sand paper for a rotary sander, a new phone from the cash converter shop and pop into the grocery store(supermacado) for some supplies.
Found a cheap Phone, an ex McDonald employees I could tell from the numbers list. Picked up my messages. A place had come available in the ARC. Phoned to confirm I'll do it. Still can't really believe I am. Picked up food and headed back to the yard. Pepe is there but no sign of any action on the engine. I started grinding out the osmosis blisters. Eventually a new young guy shows up. Things are looking up. With much positioning the caterpillar lift is in place,(the thing is designed for picking up small motor boats and has two 8 meter forks, one of which was jockeyed into position over the companion way). The photo above is of the moment when the engine came through the hatch. The birth of a 600 lb, 34 year old engine. What a huge effort over 3 days and late in the day it was finally removed.
Pepe left me with my instructions for tomorrow morning. Clean out and strip the engine bay of all the old tubes and dirt. With the engine out of the saloon I could tackle the faulty connection on the fridge and make dinner. Mad and I haven't even mentioned how aggressively these guys get stuck in grinder in hand and sparks flying. The final act of taking out the engine was disassembling the steel cradle. What a day! Oh ya. I have a serious cock roach problem. When does it ever end!?