Transmission

Saturday 26th March 

At 0800 the mechanic Aristides arrived and we moved the engine box out of the way onto the swim platform, and he started to dismantle pipes etc. We left for breakfast at the Bambu. When we returned he was with his assistant into dismantling the aquadrive, the number of bolts on that and the access is not the greatest. The transmission cooler had been removed and it was discovered to have been the culprit, it had failed thus letting water get into the transmission oil. On the dock was a collection of timber and two 40 gallon oil drums. Their purpose was to become abundantly clear. After four hours of continuous unbolting, grunting and unintelligible Spanish, they declared they were ready to lift the engine.

The oil drum was put aboard resting on a sheet of ply and two boards so it didn’t bite into the teak deck, a long 6" square board about 12' long was rested on the oil drum and then on the edge of the dock ! Thank god there was no swell and it was before the whale boats came back from their second run for the day. One guy held that end, the come along was attached and the engine was raised slightly and chocked. Then they transferred the come along to the transmission housing. Then this was unbolted and swung away but unable to clear the forward bulkhead. So the trolling valve linkage had to be removed, then it was clear to come up and be man handled by four guys to the aft deck, not easy with all the hatches opened. I think I put the center hatch back for that manouver. Then with six guys it was slid up off the boat, using two long planks onto the dock and wrapped up in tarpaulin. By 1600, numerous Coco Colas and agua it was a done deal.

That evening we went to the French restaurant L’hacienda and had we thought an excellent and well deserved nosh up. There was a commotion on the quay wall, two local fishermen had landed a 12' Marlin. It had taken them seven hours to land, the fish was nearly as big as their boat, and this was the third fish in as many years!

Pintal is the nom de plume that has been writing articles about sailing and politics of sailing since the early ‘80's. Sea time includes some 60,000 miles offshore, racing, delivery and cruising in the waters of Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Mediterranean, Newfoundland, Great Lakes, Vancouver Island, East Coast United States, Gulf Coast, Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.