Work Complete!
Finally 45 days after SAILS was hauled to check the starboard engine vibration... all work is completed. Problem was found to be a bad shaft coupling... shaft was sent out to machine shop and had a new coupling fitted to it... After shaft was removed play was noticed in the transmissions output shaft and sent out for repairs... They found it needed more than just a new rear seal and bearing... the forward and reverse cone drive needed to be replaced... problem was the part had to come from Japan... almost 5 weeks waiting for the part to arrive. It arrived to the Atlanta Georgia on November 22nd and then 2 days to ship to New England arriving on November 24th... Transmission was delivered back to the boat yard on November 29th and installation completed December 1st... We took it for a short sea trial today and everything was given the OK and we are finally ready to start south to Florida... at least the boat is ready... we still have to do some preparation but plan to depart early Monday morning December 6th.
And it is time to leave for sure... temps predicted for the next few days... high in the 30's and lows in the 20's... There are a couple of inflatable dinks at the top of the dock that have been sitting there full of water... this morning that water in those inflatable dinks was frozen... ICE... TIME TO HEAD SOUTH!