I´ve kind of been down the past few weeks. I feel like there is this big black cloud overhead. It started in portobello with my outboard being stolen, then a few days ago my laptop died for the last time, it´s shot.
2 days ago i decided to dig into my motor and thourally go through it before I motor through the canal. My tranny had been leaking a little and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. I also wanted to pull the coupling and check my shaft alignment as the motor has been vibrating more then usual. Well when I got back there and pulled off the coupling I found something rather amazing. the aft, starbord motor mount only had one bolt holding it to the motor, it had shifted about 2 inches to port. Well I borrowed a large metal fence post from the club, and hoisted up the motor with the tackle from my boom vang. I got the motor in place and replaced the missing bolt. The rear motor mounts are kind of hard to see.
Well I figured I should check the others and tighten up any loose bolts, I couldnt believe it, the rear, port mount had no bolts at all. Now I know why the motor has been vibrating. One of the bolts is snapped off and drilling it out of the motor is no easy task. I´ve also found that I need to replace my motor mounts as the bolt in the middle turns when adjusting the highth, AHHHHHHHHH.
Well all the stress came to a head last night and I got really drunk in the Panama Canal Yacht Club bar. I was drinking with a local guy and found out he is the best diesel guy in Panama. He´s comming to look at the situation today.
It all looks like it´s turning around though. A friend of a friend offerd me his spare laptop, and it looks like I might have a line on an outbord.
My cousin in comming on the 7th to transit the canal with me, it will be good to see some family, it´s been so long.
I´m really touched by the donations that have been comming in, I´ve recieved like a hundred and fifty dollars since I put up the link a week ago, and trust me, thats going a long way.
I really cant wait to get out of this horrible place Colon is definatly the arm pit of the Carribean. Last thursday there were 5 shootings within 4 blocks of the Yacht Club, 3 of which resulted in murders. Everybody has there hand out and looks at you like your an ATM machine, it really sucks.
Anyway I hate writing about negitive crap but thats whats around, cruising isint allways beautiful sandy beachs and coconuts.
Peace, Love, and God I can´t wait to get out of here.
= Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
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