New Engine Ready for Installation

Finally, at last.  It seems this engine replacement has taken forever.  Astraea and I and our crew of two were scheduled to leave at the end of October last year for Mexico with the Baja Haha.  Just before departing I discovered a slight noise in the engine that concerned me, and further analysis by several mechanics confirmed my decision to pull and open and inspect the engine.  It was discovered that the engine, a year old with 160 hours on it, had an incorrrectly designed salt water cooling system that had allowed water to enter the engine.  It was ruined (see earlier posts for the gruesome details). 

The last five months has been a frustrating experience with mechanics, insurance company, boatyard, Westerbeke, ad nauseum.  Finally the new engine has arrived in San Diego at Cogswell Marine and has had the necessary modificatons made and is ready to install.  The installation is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday March 15-16.  The engine installation itself is not that complicated, as an identical engine is being installed.  The more complex part is redesigning and reworking the wet exhaust system to ensure that sea water will not enter the engine again.  I have full confidence in Pete Cogswell of Cogswell Marine that he has a proper design.  In fact, the design that he is doing is virtually identical to the original design of the old Isuzu engine that the boatyard tore out and replaced.  We are also installing a much larger custom made wet exhaust muffler.   

Now, however, a new twist has been added.  Out of nowhere I have received a job offer for a very senior executive position.  I had really decided a  year ago that my professional career was over and my future was sailing and retirement.  Now what could be a great professional opportunity has arisen.  I will spend most of next week oboard Astraea for the engine installation and decide whether to turn down the job and go cruising now, or to take the job and go cruising later.  My feelings on this shift from day to day.  This is going to take some real introspection, some soul searching. 

But for now, engine installation time.  Finally!  Next week!  As far as the job opportunity, well, as Scarlett O'Hara famously said, "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."

New Engine sitting at Cogswell Marine, San Diego, ready for install March 15