Still in HHI, SC

Waiting and waiting and waiting. We got hauled out on Monday since the new engine was to arrive the same day - which it did. Getting hauled out was quite the experience! When the tide is low, the slip where the travel lift pulls the boats has zero water (see picture to right). So we had to wait for high tide which was around noon. The boat was pulled in, bow to, which made getting the boat in the lift just right so the forestay wasn't hitting the lift a challenge. John Ray went up, and then down. The slings were moved. John Ray went up and then down again. The slings were moved. John Ray went up, and then down again. The slings were moved. I believe it was on the 4th or 5th try that they got the position right. I wasn't sure they were going to get it right before the tide started heading out again. It was a harrowing experience watching the boat being jostled and leaning first to starboard, then port. Then the bow was tilted down and the stern was up in the air. Then the stern was tilted down and the bow was up in the air. It was crazy, but they got the job done. Looking forward to doing it all again when we get put back in the water :) - which by the way, who knows when that will be. At least we're not stuck in Belhaven!!!!

So Monday afternoon, the boat was prepped to have workers going off and on. Some hoses were drained and that was about it for Monday. We probably could have stayed on the boat Monday night, but we got a hotel room for two nights. Oh, and by the way, we met a couple, Sue and Mike (and their youngest son Philip), on Adamo. We were docked next to them when we first arrived here last week. They recently got back from cruising and are now settling here to find jobs for a while. Their middle son, attends high school here at Hilton Head and lives with grandma. Their oldest is in college. Anyway, they have a car and a Jeep Sahara. They offered us the use of the Jeep while we are here (unless they need it). We were able to drive back and forth to the hotel which is approximately 3 miles away - probably a little more.

On Tuesday morning, we got to the marina bright and early to keep an eye on the hours that they spend working on the boat (something like $95/hr. for labor). In the morning, the everything was disconnected from the old engine. Then the boat sat idle for a large part of the day while the mechanic got called out to an emergency job. Very frustrating. We went off bike riding as there was nothing we could do. By the late afternoon, the mechanic was back and the old engine was lifted out with a crane. Check out pictures at: http://tinyurl.com/johnray-hiltonhead. When the engine was out, they realized that the raw water pump was different on the new engine so a new one had to be ordered and sent overnight. On Wednesday, Steve worked on the boat most of the day pulling all the old wiring to the control panel (saving some labor bucks :) and installing the new wiring. Michele worked on uploading pictures and dealing with her frustrating job situation - very long story.

Mike and Sue invited us over for drinks last night (Wed.) and we ended up being the guests that wouldn't leave (since we didn't have the hotel room anymore and the boat is in complete disarray - including no electricity.) By 9:00, they ended up feeding us dinner too. At midnight we finally headed over to our boat and slept there on the settees.

Today was another day of waiting as measurements were taken and new mounts had to be created so that the new engine would work in the old engine room without cutting any fiberglass. We went for a bike ride today, but spent most of the day just moseying around the Palmetto Bay pavillion. There's lots of activity with three restaurants, shops, the marina, and a tiki bar. The weather has been gorgeous, but this waiting is getting old. Michele wants to get home!