Tuesday, June 24, 2008

FIXING THE BROKEN STUFF

There were no breakages on Wind Runner that would mean, NO GO, returning to America. There were on other boats, a boom gooseneck, a furling gear link, autopilots.

There were things to fix if possible and renew on Wind Runner before the voyage back. The light on the tachometer burned out. The oil pressure warning alarm stopped beeping. After finding a failed pressure switch, we had to find a Yanmar store.

We didn't find a Yanmar store, but we found Harrison, a Yanmar agent. It was literally like playing Twister or doing the limbo, walking with him through his 1200 sq ft shop. Halfway to the parts we needed, we called out to Harrison who was way ahead, "we shouldn't be following you, should we." Harrison replied, "probably not." We went back the way we came and waited in no particular spot. There was no customer service counter.

Soon Harrison came back with lights and switches. Two each. One to be installed. One to be put in Wind Runner's spares bin. When we asked how much, he said the switches were $16.00, we could have the lights. We gave him $40.00 and left amazed.

Once back at Wind Runner, the lightbulb was easily changed. The pressure switch was low and aft on the starboard side of the engine. We enlisted the skinnier fingers, hands, and arms of mechanic Toby to change it. Even he had to wrestle with several possible tools and then hold his mouth right to get the bad switch out and the good one in.

Once the stuff we knew was broke was fixed, the engine oil was changed. Then we slowly looked over Wind Runner. We didn't go inch by inch. We did go foot by foot, cleaning while we went. All appeared shipshape.

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