Bad news in St. Augustine

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Tuesday, November 12

We have been at Rivers Edge Marina since last Thursday troubleshooting what is wrong with the engine. Phil spent Saturday and part of Sunday removing the head from the engine thinking that it was a valve problem. Yesterday with Harold’s help (SV Ghost III docked a few boats down from us) Phil dropped off the head at Marvin’s Service to be looked at. We heard late yesterday that the head is cracked and needs to be replaced. Phil just left at 845am to go talk to them in person to decide what to do and explore options. We are looking at if there is a used head available as new is $2800. If you have any resources that may have a used or re manufactured head, we would appreciate the information. We have already called TransAtlantic Diesel and they are looking to see if they have

Yesterday was spent with new cruising friends Jan and Karl Stein, met from the WWS (Women Who Sail) FB group I belong to. They are very nice taking us on a few errands and then going to downtown St. Augustine to Columbia’s Restaurant for lunch.

Jan E. stein and Lorraine Dolsen at Columbia Restaurant

Jan E. stein and Lorraine Dolsen at Columbia Restaurant

Phil and I split an combo entreé and good thing. Even between the two of us, we couldn’t finish it. The food was as good as the company.
Karl and Jan, Lorraine and Phil in front of Columbia's Restaurant in St. Augustine, FL

Karl and Jan, Lorraine and Phil in front of Columbia’s Restaurant in St. Augustine, FL

I’m hopeful that We’ll be able to get together before they leave. Jan does canvas work for her brother, makes quilts and some knitting and with sailing, we have a lot in common. They are in Green Cove Springs working on getting their boat ready for another cruising season. WWS has been the best for me enabling me to meet new women and their husbands along the way, which has been sorely needed by me. We also get advice from a wealth of women that have a wide range on experience. Even though their is “Sail” in the group name, it’s also for women on powerboats that are cruising or getting ready to cruise.

I’ll post later about my canvas projects I’ve been working on the last couple days.

15 thoughts on “Bad news in St. Augustine”

  1. Glad to hear it is fixable. Will the mating surface for the head need to be reground?

    One would think after Hurricane Sandy there would be plenty of cheap blocks for such a popular engine to be floating around. Well, maybe not floating.

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    • They are going to resurface it as part of fixing it. Phil thinks they threw them out down here in Florida anyway. We are planning on staying here until next Thursday so he has time to put the engine back together again.

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  2. Try mac boring in Union, NJ…regional Yanmar distributor and Tommy, the mechanic at Westland Marina in Titusville, FL 321-267-1667 and mention my name to Tommy

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  3. Lorraine & Phil: I sure feel for you two, what with engine problems which are most often not resolved quickly or cheaply. Why don’t you broadcast to your many friends, your engine specifications. I, for one, would cast about for used parts depots and engine owners for sources and info which might be unknown to you. No sense for you to carry this stressful burden on just your shoulders. Especially while you are of necessity needing to move to warmer climes in quick time. Albert, I am going to attempt to send the above directly. I may get thru but would like you to send to them via email also. If they get one or both emails, so be it.

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  4. Lorraine & Phil: I sure feel for you two, what with engine problems which are most often not resolved quickly or cheaply. Why don’t you broadcast to your many friends, your engine specifications. I, for one, would cast about for used parts depots and engine owners for sources and info which might be unknown to you. No sense for you to carry this stressful burden on just your shoulders. Especially while you are of necessity needing to more to warmer climes in quick time. Albert, I am going to attempt to send the above directly. I may get thru but would like you to send to them via email also. If they get one or both emails, so be it.

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    • Phil had been calling many places that were recommended to him by First Mate Yacht Services here in St. Augustine and also sailing friend in Long Island Sound. At least we can get this one fixed and much more reasonable than having to buy a new head. Thanks for spreading the word to your friends.

      Lorraine

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    • Thanks! We have a Yanmar 2QM20 diesel. We just had great news. Automotive Block Welding in Jacksonville, FL can see the end of the crack, which means THEY CAN FIX IT! Yeah! This will be the least expensive fix.

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      • Phil wanted to keep the same engine head as our engine has been on freshwater all it’s life except the year in salt water we’ve been in our trips, so not as much corrosion.

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