What to do while waiting for a new engine ? Oh, and with the realisation that it’s also your 16th wedding anniversary weekend ….. book a local apartment of course ! Then fill the car with as much stuff as you can take (just in case) and set off.
We headed for the coast, to a place we have visited on Gemini J but that we haven’t actually spent that much time in – La Manga. For those of you who don’t know the geography of the area – La Manga (the sleeve) is a long very thin strip of land separating the Mar Menor (little sea) from the Mar Mayor (big sea /Mediterranean). It is a saltwater lagoon – more or less, there is a very small strip of water which flows in and out of the Mar Menor and a bridge which opens enabling masted boats to travel in and out. Our apartment was on the 8th floor and had amazing views right over the channel and out towards Isla Grosa in the Mediterranean.
We had an amazing weekend, I got a couple of good sessions in on my paddle board since the beach was literally just across the road. Nigel relaxed and went snorkelling – he saw a few little fish but not much really.
It was really good being in La Manga at the weekend – the bridge opens once every two hours and it was incredible how many boats come in / out, we counted 27 yachts waiting to come in at 2 o’clock on the Saturday afternoon – and that of course doesn’t include any boats without masts who come and go as they please. We were in our element watching the comings and goings although obviously with a bit of envy wishing we were on the water ourselves, still, hopefully it won’t be too long for that day.
All too soon it was time to head home and await the arrival of the new engine for Gemini J. We started to put in place the things that would need to happen when it arrived, including getting a crane to lift it into the boat and also the moving of our boat onto a berth from where this could happen. On Wednesday we received the call – it had arrived – on the very day the engineers predicted – and it was in their workshop – could they come tomorrow and install it ?? Of course we said yes, we rushed around at home, calling the marina to set up the crane and check that we could move the boat. We drove down to Cartagena almost immediately and started to prepare things for the big arrival on Thursday. In reality, the engineers had been to the boat on Monday and prepared everything they could in the engine bay to make the delivery job go as smoothly as possible.
Very first thing on Thursday morning the marineros arrived to help us move the boat – which is not quite as easy as it sounds since we don’t have a working engine and moving it involves them in a small motorboat effectively pushing/nudging us into the new position, being very careful to avoid the other boats as we go. We got onto the new berth alongside the concrete parking area and where the crane lorry could come alongside us. Almost before we had finished our morning coffee (much needed by that time – and it was still only 8:30) the crane had arrived – they said 9am and he was there are ten to nine, followed by the engineers with the engine at five to nine ….. by 9 the crane was in position and the engine was being unpacked. The first job however, was to take out the old engine – which also needed to be lifted with the crane. Before we knew it, it was out ! The new engine was lifted off it’s frame in order that the old one could be put onto it and the mounting bolts checked – that was the easiest way to check the new engine would fit in the same fixing position as the old one. I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when this fitted.
The new engine was soon lifted into the air and seemed to spent and eternity waiting for the boat to be prepared to receive it as the engineers cleaned out the whole engine bay and area where it was to go.
By just after 10am the new engine was in place – we were amazed and very happy. This was a bit short lived as the engineer wasn’t happy with the amount of space (or lack of it) around the new engine in the engine bay. There is a Spanish word “un pelin” which translates to a hair’s breadth which was used a fair bit that morning. We had to stop the crane driver from leaving so that he could lift the engine back out of it’s bay (although just onto the floor inside the boat ready for re-install). Once that was done a specialist ship’s carpenter was called to come and make some minor alterations to the engine bay (well, they would have been major to anyone else attempting it but he made it look very easy). He cut out some pieces and took them back to his workshop – and returned with them in the afternoon, we now have an extra inspection hatch right next to our kitchen area, it looks really professional. Whilst the carpenter was at work we said goodbye to the engineers who will return on Monday to fully install the engine.
It was a complete whirlwind of a morning, difficult to see our precious new engine (built in May 2021) dangling in mid-air but at the same time impossible not to to watch what was going on with fascination.
We came home for the weekend, to prepare ourselves for another week of engine-gate ahead, oh and the small matter of a couple of football matches featuring teams we have a bit of an interest in 😉 Let’s see what next week brings.
The Adventures of Gemini J 