Date: 8 December 2014. Whew! Engine O-U-T.

© janice142
 

Of late Seaweed has been strewn with s-t-u-f-f. Nothing is put away and it is nearly unbearable. I like order, a tidy home and calm. What I have had is workmen aboard, the disaster of the canning jars, and, well, chaos. Though the end result will be worth it totally, I do not enjoy the process one iota. I have been concentrating on maintaining sanity while under construction.
 

Four dozen canning jars should not surround my Christmas decorations. It is not festive.
 

I am bad at living like this and it has been weighing heavily upon my nerves. Almost anything can be borne if one knows it will end at such-and-such time on a specific date. During Tropical Storm Beryl, just knowing the speed of the bands was very helpful. The article Beryl Lessons tells about that situation.

But Beryl is neither here nor there. What is here right now is a mess.
 

Coffee is allowing me to retain whatever smidgen of sanity I have remaining.

First off, the coupler was pounded loose from Seaweed's shaft. That was loud and involved lots of banging with a sledge hammer and a wood block. I am quite certain Patrick was well glad to be done with that portion of the job.
 

Plus I should have sprayed the coupler yesterday with CRC Silicone Spray which would have helped facilitate removal no doubt. I just did not think to do so. Still, Patrick got the job done and with a cheerful attitude too.
 

Meet Patrick:

 

Steve (on left in next photo) and the new helper Patrick have been taking apart the old engine. Well, actually Steve's been offering advice and Patrick has been doing the heavy lifting.
 

After disconnecting the coupler and shaft, next the transmission was removed from BOB.

As was expected, about a quart of oil came out. Bilge Diapers (oil-catching mats) caught it all.
 

It was a mess. And oil got under my fingernails. Dirty fingernails is okay for guys, but not me. My beautiful long nails are now chopped off. They are also clean and growing. I am aware that not tolerating filthy nails is my quirk. 
 

The transmission is now off. Next stage is to raise and remove the Volvo from Seaweed. To lift the motor a come-along, chain and hoist are required. Beast (the original gasoline engine) was removed with this set-up. The same will be used to remove BOB (the Volvo) and install Betsy, the lovely new-to-me Kubota.
 

Here is Patrick adjusting the brace. The Beckson plate is opened so a chain can drop through the overhead.

 

Next, attach chains and haul up the BOB. This is a sad and happy day. I am sad that the BOB Volvo did not survive. A lot of time, effort and cash went into making it go, and while running I could not have been happier. Chugging along at five knots without a smidgen of a ripple is an amazing experience.
 

Plus, a piece of Bob was cruising, albeit in my boat. Bob was a special guy. You met him in the Time Stopped article.
 

In the meantime, I have four dozen canning jars spread all over my pilothouse chart-table in and amongst the Christmas decorations. Oh and the Volvo is swinging in my pilothouse. If anyone wonders why I am getting just a tiny bit cantankerous, the next picture along with the one at the top of this article ought to give you a reason, or two!
 

Life is good, and will get better. It will be much better when a DOA engine is not in the middle of the doggone boat. Engine swaps are not for sissies.
 

As for me, I opted to cancel sending Christmas cards. The chaos is too much pressure on my soul. Those that got gifts before the decision was made are fortunate. The rest, well, there's always 2015.
 

Are you living through chaos during the holidays?
Do you spend time with family or friends that have become your surrogate family? Or are both included?
 

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© 2014, 2023

Categories: Characters, In the Bilges, Money,

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