Out with the old, in with the new!

H O L Y    M A C K E R E L !

It finally happened, our old engine was removed and the new one was lowered in this morning!

The sole (floor) of the cockpit comes out, so this is looking straight down into the engine room.

Thankfully, David waited until the last minute to remove our diesel furnace.

Looking into the cockpit (cardboard for extra protection).

Here comes the crane!  Aric used hand signals with the crane operator to get it right where we needed it.

Pulling the old engine out.  The "ball" of the crane is padded with carpet and duck tape.

Out with the old!

New engine is sitting "at the ready" on the tailgate.

New engine being lowered into the engine room.

David was guiding it from the companionway.  Jim was in the engine room.

Busy morning!

After the crane left, David and Jim rigged the engine on a steel bar to fine tune the installation.

I got to raise and lower the engine with this ratchet-y device while they made adjustments.

Tight quarters!

In order for the engines to move around today, the diesel furnace had to be removed from the engine room (second photo, above).  That black and gray "shoebox" keeps us toasty warm on these winter days.  Hallberg Rassy sailboats are also very well insulated.  We keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer!

With the companionway and engine room wide open this morning, it got down to 49* in the cabin.  However, the furnace has been reinstalled as of 2pm and we are already up to 63* right now.

Two boats were hauled out this morning.

Ice in the haul-out basin early this afternoon.

Getting pushed back to our slip.  The ice ends near the yellow cat up there.

Gray on the bay today.

Back "home" at the other end of the marina.

So there you have it.  This is what we've been waiting for for a long, long time!  David will make all the connections in the coming days and we'll schedule a sea trial with a certified Volvo mechanic.