Taking Control

Thanks to some improvisation on our part, Snow Dragon’s repowering is on schedule.  We were ready for the Perkins to be removed from the engine room on Monday morning but by the end of business on Tuesday, the yard had yet to make any progress. It seemed they were more interested in doing the work that we had already done than moving the project forward. The head mechanic took all the measurements for removing the engine which we had already done. The next day two mechanics with a grinder came down to the boat to cut the T frame so that the track for the chain hoist would fit. They sheepishly retreated to their workshop when they realized that Frances had already done the job and had the hoists ready to lift the engine.

Frances cutting timber for the supports

With no indication from the yard that they were actually planning to move the project forward, we decided to do the job ourselves. After gathering scraps of timber to use as supports, we spent Tuesday evening lifting the Perkins out of the engine room and onto the pilothouse floor. On Wednesday morning, the yard did a double take when Frances told them that the Perkins was ready to be removed by crane. To our surprise the yard moved us over to the crane and lifted the Perkins out and replaced it with the Yanmar that afternoon.

Cranking on the chain hoist

The Perkins sitting on the pilot house floor

Their rough method of towing Snow Dragon over to the crane, nearly ramming Snow Dragon’s bow sprit into a large fish boat, was high stress. Luckily the lift went much more smoothly. We made it clear that they were not to damage Snow Dragon in any way when they switched out the engines. It took a bit of reminding but they did manage to use more care than usual. Then they towed us back, ramming Snow Dragon’s bow into the dock. We thanked them for the lift and for the “terrifying tow experience”.

Prepping the Perkins to be lifted out of the boat

The Yanmar coming into the boat

The yard seemed to finally understand that when we ask for something we expect it to happen within a finite period. Now when we order supplies, they are delivered the same day and our methods are no longer questioned. This weekend we will finish the new engine bed and lower the Yanmar into the engine room.