We have COMMITTED!!

Today we signed the agreement to purchase and replace the Perkins 4-108 engine and replace it with a new Yanmar 4JH5E - 54hp diesel engine.  I have been monitoring a couple who are finishing up the last 1,000 miles of a six-year circumnavigation in their Tayana 42 Center Cockpit sailboat (exactly like ours).  One week after departing Long Island Sound at the beginning of their circumnavigation, they had to pull into port in Virginia and chose to replace their tired Perkins 4-108 the same Yanmar engine.  I emailed them about the engine and received a glowing report regarding this engine - 5000 engine hours later, zero difficulties - change oil every 150-200 hours and they have not had one single episode with their engine.  Given that and the fact that Yanmar is the preferred engine being installed in most new sailboats today, we decided this was the decision that was correct for us too.  Thanks Handley's and the rest of you who have been so good to us in making this decision!!

We will move the boat to Marathon Key probably over this next weekend, April 16-17, so it will be there while we return to Houston for the Concours de Elegance Keels and Wheels Classic Auto/Boat Show at Lakewood Yacht Club in Kemah, TX.  I have a bit of work to do once we get the boat up there, but I can accomplish that in the slip there as well as here.  The challenge will be getting JonNe' out of the slip and moved to open water where we can sail her to Marathon Key.  At that time, I will probably set anchor and decide how to pull her into the Boat Yard from there.  I have some research to do at this point.  Our dinghy may come in real handy at this point!!

Until then there is a lot to do.  We will keep you up to date as we go along.  After the initial shock of what this will cost, we are both excited about getting through this and moving on with our cruising plans.  We will be back in Key West for the balance of May and possibly into June.  We have to figure that out at this point.

Mark and Judy Handley, http://www.handleysail.com/
Marathon Boat Yard, 230-20th Street, Marathon, FL, 33050  305-743-6341 - Bruce
Yanmar America Corporation, http://www.yanmar.com/




Renne' and I will see you out on the dock for sundowners!

JonNe'