As the main sailing season slows down, our thoughts turn towards some of those annual maintenance jobs that we just haven’t quite got around to yet, with servicing the engine being the top of our list.
It all started well, with the impellor coming out in (mostly) one piece pretty easily and the new one going back in even more easily.
We thought that the oil would be equally as easy…unfortunately we stumbled at the first hurdle when we found that the hose for the oil extractor pump was one size too big to fit down any of the tubes on the engine! Time for some internet shopping to find the right size hoses!
While Mike was playing with the alternator belt, so hopefully less squeaking as well going forward, I took advantage of the gorgeously sunny, if chilly, day to do a quick change around of several of the mast blocks. During the season we had noticed some cracking and damage to the wheel section of the main halyard block and, while we work out exactly which the block is to get a new one, a quick bit of switcheroo at least has moved a less worn block onto the halyard.
As for the engine service – 2 parts done (impeller and belt), 2 to go (oil and fuel) – something to look forward to!
