Cleaning up after engine removal

After we removed the engine, we began the process of cleaning up and putting the boat back together, at least part way before Sarah, Jesse and Rae arrive.

Here is what the bilge under the engine looked like when it was removed and we took out the fiberglass engine pan. It was very 'yucky' (note: the technical term), and cleaning it involved siphoning out all of the old 'fluid', and going in with bilge soap and brushes to clean.

This is what it looks like now after we cleaned it and Rich painted it with bilge paint.

We still have more work to do before we install the new engine but that will wait until after the visit with the kids.

In the meantime we have been visiting with friends. We had dinner on Wednesday night with Adam and Cindi of SV Bravo, along with the folks from SV The Rose and SV Boomer. They gave us some good suggestions of places to anchor at in the Sea of Cortez this summer. We are looking forward to seeing the places they talked about.

Thursday we took the bus into Puerto Vallarta and met Reg and Phoebe of SV Three Sheets. As they are having their engine rebuilt and will not make it to Ecuador in time for their daughter's visit, Reg is staying with the boat to monitor the rebuild and Phoebe flew to Ecuador on Friday. They took the 'express bus' from Barra Navidad and had plenty of stories about their adventure. We spent the afternoon and evening with them at Marina Vallarta, then took the bus back to La Cruz.

Saturday afternoon as we were finishing cleaning the boat, Biaggio of SV Gem stopped by on his dingy. Biaggio was on the Pacific Puddle Jump with us in 2002. He is now a single-hander and just arrived at La Cruz from Isla Isabella. The last time we saw him was in Australia in 2004. It was good to catch up with him. Biaggio will also be cruising in the Sea of Cortez this summer. We look forward to visiting with him more and others during the PPJ reunion on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This afternoon we will pick up Sarah at the airport. Tuesday we pick up Jesse and Rae. We can hardly wait.

Old engine is gone

Yesterday, Butch helped us move Windarra to the work dock so we can lift the engine out and put it on the dock.

Rich removed the companionway stairs and the grab rails. We removed the dodger and set it on the deck. Using the main halyard we lifted the boom and again Butch secured a line around the boom and attached the hoist. At first we tried to lift the engine as sits normally on the salon floor.

We got the engine partially lifted but realized it would no go through the companionway. So we had to lower it back down, tip it on its end and then lift it out.

Here is the engine coming out with the transmission end downward. We then set it down on the cockpit floor, readjusted the hoist, lifted it back up then swung the boom over and set it down on a dolly on the dock. When we set it down in the cockpit, some of the remaining oil spilled out onto the cockpit floor. After the engine was off the boat, Rich and I removed the slats cleaned up the oil and then scrubbed the cockpit floor and each of the slats trying to get as much of the oil off as we could.

The old engine is on the dolly at the end of the dock.

This morning, Butch helped us move Windarra back to our slip. He removed the brackets that hold the engine mounts. Rich and I spent the rest of the day cleaning the engine compartment. This included draining the pan that is under the engine, removing the pan and cleaning the bilge and the inside of the engine compartment. What a messy job!



Removing the old engine

This morning, Butch, the mechanic, was at Windarra bright and early with his tools, a long 2 in steel pipe, some plywood, a chain hoist and come-alongs to help remove the engine.

Rich removed the salon table to provide more room in the salon.

Butch drilled a hole in the aft stateroom closet through the bulkhead to the engine compartment and a 2 by 4. After securing a 2 by 4, one end of the pipe was put through the hole.

The engine was tied to the pipe.

A come-along was also tied to the engine and around the mast to pull the engine out. The hoist went around the boom and the chain went around the pole to help take the weight of the engine.

After successively adjusting the come-along, the hoist and the lines around the engine, by 1:15 pm, the engine was sitting on plywood in the salon.

Tomorrow we will move the boat to the work dock and lift the engine out and onto the dock.

It appears that there was an inner cooler failure which allowed salt water to get into the engine and was exhausted into the turbo which froze. It is a good thing we are replacing the engine.

The Engine has Arrived!

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Rich and I decided to walk over to the boatyard to see if they had any new status on the arrival of the engine. As we were waiting to talk to Alejandro, a delivery truck arrived and dropped off a large wooden box with YANMAR in big letters on the side. Our engine had arrived. We took the top off and looked at the shiny new engine. Oh boy!

Now the fun begins. Before we can take the old engine out some preparation was required. Rich took off some parts we might be able to use as spares. He also removed the Racor fuel filter and it's enclosure and cleaned it up. The watermaker was removed and is on the floor of the pullman. We took the sunshade panels off the bimini and the panels on the dodger. They are stored in the v-berth along with the cockpit cushions and the starboard salon cushion. We tied a line around the mainsail to lift if off the boom, it is loose fitted, so it will be easier to tie lines around the boom for hoisting the engine.

The mechanic, plans to arrive on Sunday morning at 8:00 am to begin.

I will keep you posted....

The new engine for Windarra

The engine saga marches on

We have ordered a new engine. It will be delivered to an agent in San Diego then transported to the boatyard here at La Cruz. By using the agent and our temporary import permit we are able to avoid the 16% duty that is normally applied to boat parts entering Mexico. We do not have a date for on dock at La Cruz yet but we are told that delivery from San Diego is normally 10 days to two weeks. In the mean time we have been busy.

Rich has been removing parts. Some items will go into our parts inventory such as the starter motor, fresh water pump, alternator and brackets. He removed the Racor fuel filter for cleaning and its enclosure to facilitate removing the old engine. We will remove the salon table, its stands, and the cushions. Plywood will be used to protect the floors and for sliding the engine on. We will also remove the companionway grab rails and stairs as well as folding back the bimini and taking off the dodger completely.

Rich has had several discussions with the mechanic as to the best way to remove the old engine. One thought it so drill a hole in the bulkhead at the aft end of the engine compartment and run a 2 inch steel pipe through it with a back plate. The pipe would extend into the salon. We would wrap a chain around the aft end of the engine and over the pipe and another at the forward end of the engine and a come-along around the mast in the salon. The pipe would be using to pull the engine up and the come-along would pull the engine out. Once it is out of the compartment we would use the boom with chains again to lift it out of the salon into the cockpit and then onto the dock. At least this is the current theory.

While Rich is working down below, I continue on the stainless. I have finished the stanchions and the fore and aft pulpits. Next are the shrouds.

When we are not working on the boat Rich and I have enjoyed many social activities. This includes happy hour and listening to reggae music at the Sky Bar here at the marina with Cindy of SV Bravo. Afterwards she led us through La Cruz to a small family run taco restaurant up the hill. Good, inexpensive food if judged by the other cruisers also enjoying a meal. Wednesday, 2/8, we went to the Pacific Puddle Jump seminar on rigging and in the evening we joined 6 other cruisers for dinner at restaurant 109. This is not really the name of the restaurant but that is what the cruisers call it since almost all of the entries cost 109 pesos.

Last night was movie night. There is an amphitheater at one corner of the marina where they have set up a screen and show free movies on Thursday nights at 7:00 pm. The Ikuai Restaurant sells beer and drinks at happy hour prices, hot dogs, popcorn and a few snack items. We brought our cockpit chairs to sit on, had beer, hot dogs and popcorn and enjoyed the movie. Part way through the movie, they stop for a bathroom and food break. The selection for this week was the movie, “The Help”. Rich and I both enjoyed it. 

Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 10 am there is a Spanish class which I have started to attend. I am picking it up very slowly trying to expand my vocabulary.

Our friends, Reg and Phoebe of SV Three Sheets stopped by La Cruz for a few days and we were glad we could get together with then before they headed south to Ecuador.  Their first stop was Tenacatita and then on to Barra Navidad. Their engine was acting up a little when they went from Paradise Village to Punta de Mita and we met them for dinner at Si Senor. Reg thought it was a fuel issue and planned to replace the filters when he returned to Paradise Village. The engine coughed a bit when they stopped at La Cruz before heading south. We just heard that they too are having serious engine issues similar to ours with the same model of engine. They have diagnosed rust in the turbo with cylinder failures. The saying is “misery loves company” but we interpret this to mean you want someone to be with you and sympathize, not to have someone have the same problems that you do. Now they are facing some of the same issues we did, to repair or replace. We know how it feels and we are trying to support them as they supported us. Now instead of sailing to Ecuador they may be flying down instead and leaving from Mexico to go across the South Pacific. Cruising does have its rough moments.

Adios