Engine Fitting Plan

Neil caught up with me as I was leaving the marina for an early lunch and explained the plan for lowering the new engine into Pachuca.

At the end of the jetty there is a series of round steel pylons similar in profile to the rest of the concrete pylons that support the floating jetties.  A wooden derrick is being built that will be strapped on to one of these pylons.  The new engine will then be lowered into a small barge then ferried  over to the pylon and lifted up and suspended over the water.  The barge will be moved out of the way and Pachuca will be towed into position with her companionway under the suspended engine.

When all is ready the engine will be lowered through the companionway and positioned on the engine mounts which will be capped by the angled steel. Markings will be made through the 8 engine mount bolt holes onto the angle steel and the engine will be raised enough to the allow extrication of the steel for drilling of the 8 holes at the workshop while the engine remains in suspension.  The drilled rails will then be returned to their positions, the engine lowered into place, and the 8 engine mount bolts will be fitted.

Neil thinks that this will happen in two days from now, giving me time to finish some varnishing work.

The accompanying photo shows Joel checking out the side holes that had been drilled through the steel.  I was amazed to see 5 holes rather than 3 or 4.  I was even more amazed when later in the afternoon he showed me the half-inch diameter stainless steel bolts that will thru-bolt the steel to the engine mounts.  There won't be anything sissy about this installation.  As of now the steel is painted and ready for the marking and drilling of the engine mount holes.

The fiberglassers have been working steadily on the cockpit instrument housing.  The photo shows the state of work yesterday afternoon, with lower sections of holes filled in and a backing flange clamped into position.  These men are doing very meticulous and well planned work.  They were most concerned yesterday that I had not specified a thickness for the hinged transparent cover.  Fortunately someone who spoke a bit of English came by and after getting confirmation that the material would be plastic and not toughened glass I passed the word that I deliberately omitted the measurement expecting them to make the judgement according to what was most convenient to the fabrication.  This morning they asked to see the instruments themselves and when I left they were double checking the hole diameters, bezel diameters, instrument protrusions, etc.

In the meantime now that I have finished painting the engine mounts with two coats of 2-part polyester paint over the 2-part epoxy primer that the fiberglassers had laid down, I've been at it hard for the last two days sanding, filling, and now varnishing the engine cover base which is on the foredeck and the engine cover itself which is on the cabin table.  It was too good an opportunity to miss given that these pieces were loose and the boat was filthy anyway.  Just in time, too.  I'll put on the second coat this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon I will seek help to lower the sliding cover base back into position because I don't think that we would be able to get it back in once the engine is in position.  I'll then spend a couple of hours fastening the engine base down to either the engine mounts of bilge framework.  Only one screw was holding piece down which would have added to my woes in the event of a rollover.

Yesterday after lunch I joined Brenda for a short shopping excursion.  On the way she pointed out Snug Harbor Sails that she had discovered only a block away.  We walked in and met Doug and were instantly in a good conversation.  Doug appears to be in his sixties and with his craggy face and missing eye is the picture of an experienced sailor.  He lives aboard a Hans Christian on hardstand.  "38 footer?" I asked.  When he replied Yes I mentioned that Brenda and I had just seen one off.  "Aeolus?" he asked. He knew Ib and Jadranka.  Then he mentioned a heavy sail that he has recently received.  Brenda commented that it must be the one that John had recently removed from a boat.  Indeed it was.  Doug also knows Colin, who rebuilt and engine for him.  It seems to be a small world here in La Paz.  Anyway, I liked Doug and his operation and now know where to go for any sail and flag work.

Soon after leaving the sail loft Brenda pointed out a sort of traditional and recycling art center that she had also discovered the previous day.  It sounded very interesting to me and we plan a visit soon.

We finally made it to the butcher shop and I liked everything about it: the personable butcher, the physical layout, the superb meats, and the modest variety of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, etc.

Brenda is temporarily suspending her Bird of the Day series to introduce Footpath Hazard of the Day.  There is so much material available for this series that I wonder when we will get to see Bird of the Day again.

Today's is the protruding airconditioner, at just the right height to claim an unwary victim especially at night.