The Engine That Could

Hello friends! This blog was written on July 19, 2024 as we were getting our engine worked on. Due to our WiFi being disconnected, and a very busy weekend, it was not posted on time. So here it is, days later. But better late than never!

. . .

And so, the engine saga continues. Today, July 19th, 2024, our engine was taken out of our boat. The transmission was removed, then re-attached to a new-to-us engine. The new engine has been put back in via crane and our very helpful marina staff, and the engine connected by our diesel mechanic.

It was September 3rd, 2023 when our engine stopped working right after a sail from Urbanna to Mobjack Bay. After an overnighter in Mobjack Bay, and our attempt to break up a long sail, we motored from our anchorage, put the sails up, and our engine puttered out just in time to get a good wind out of Mobjack. We began troubleshooting, and after many attempts at possible problems, we decided there was nothing we could do.

A call to Tow Boat US and a haul back to our marina by the Retriever had us back in our slip in no time. Safe, but with broken spirits.
Since this incident, we sailed to Kilmarnock and back, engineless, only to be at our wedding venue. Luckily, the two motorless sails were beautiful. The winds were on our side, and we had friends to help with towing us out.

Unfortunately, we made little progress over the winter with the engine repair. What we thought would be one thing, became something else entirely, and then that became minute when it was discovered that our crankshaft was missing ball bearings – which are not something that you can just leave out.
Steve bought Batland in 2018, which means that for six years, and many sails, our engine has run without ball bearings. Like someone I talked to today said, we were on “borrowed time”.

And so, today, for the first time in 10 months, we have an engine in our boat that will hopefully last until we sell Batland.
The truth is, after a while, issues like this (and a bad patch job, a broken forestay, and a broken AC) make you tired. You begin to see more of the work and less of the joy. We originally moved back onboard in late May with the understanding that our engine would be up and running and we’d be on the Bay all summer. Clearly, as today is July 19th and our first sail of the season has yet to happen, things did not go as planned.

However, being the optimistic realist that I am, I’m still pretty happy to have it fixed at all, and in time for a good weather weekend to boot!
I know that I could dig out a deeper meaning to this. Something about time makes the heart grow fonder, or hard work pays off, or how patience is a virtue. But quite honestly, I’m too tired of the mishaps to even begin to process it all today.

So, for now, I leave you with this: When one big thing messes up your plans, life goes on. We still went snowboarding for a month this winter, visited family in AZ and NC, hugged our friends and read books to their kids, and ultimately, continued on with our lives. Time stops for no one, and I hope I never take that for granted.

I hope your life is happening, wherever you are in the world or your journey, and I hope it brings you joy.

Cheers, readers.

Skye