A New Journey Begins for OverEasy - 2020/2022

[Jimmyt]

Have a safe trip! Always good to get home after an extended time away.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

We made it home to Beaufort SC! 🏝
Temp 72F and clear blue skies!
Sparkling waters



1073 miles in great weather throughout the trip South! Not a day of rain/sleet/ice/snow or other mischievous weather to contend with!

Last travel day departure time was 11 AM and arrival time was 4 PM. Cat hid in the aft berth amoungst the boxes and decided to travel in da boat for the last leg. He sort has really liked living in the boat these past 10 weeks and has all his favorite nooks and crannies to squirrel himself away in. Guess he just wanted to have a last day in his favorite places!

It’s good to be home……
Oops! Spoke too soon…Admiral wants Over Easy unpacked! (And the ice in the Scotch hasn’t even melted yet…. Oh well better get to it!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

The Journey Continues……

Best Regards

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

It’s Tuesday around noon.
The Admiral is off at work having a virtual meeting and group meeting in her office area of the house.
Our daughter and two of her friends are here for an extended weekend and like most 20 somethings they are still asleep.
MacGregor and Zaboo are guarding the Admiral from their respective sunbeams (but I think they are actually sleeping on the job ).

So after running out solo to the grab some groceries at 8:30 this morning, getting everything put away and making a large pot of REAL COFFEE (and bringing a large cup to the Admiral ) I find myself being stuck in “silent running mode” sitting in the living room sipping my perfect cup of coffee. Eventually I figure hunger will arouse the youngsters and I can make them a brunch of fresh blueberry pancakes, fried eggs, turkey sausage patties and pan toasted hash browns to complement the fresh Orange Juice and Coffee ( if I don’t drink it all myself ).

Last night the Admiral and I pulled the cooler items out and into the house fridge. The little Coleman Thermonic Chest Cooler still had everything still cold. Really surprised us as to how well our ‘antique’ garage sale find $20 cooler has performed on this journey.
It performed like a Champ!

We also pulled in the laundry, clothing and pillows. Nice to have our own washer and dryer again. Just two small loads last night and that chore is history. We found that we could have packed better by bringing more warm clothes and our 3-in-1 jackets and fewer summer clothes (but IT WAS 95F+ in SC when we left back in the middle of August ). Oh well live and learn…(I did get a nice fleece jacket though ). Next time.

Tomorrow after the kids have gone I’ll start in earnest on emptying and cleaning the boat. For 10 weeks on the water it really isn’t in bad shape inside or out. We are both rather neat and the small confines inside helps minimize any clutter or debris. The regular use of the little 1gallon wet/dry Shop Vac helped a lot. Next go round I do think that we will probably get a second one so we can have a “wet” one and a “dry” one. (I accidentally vacuumed up some water into a canister of dry stuff which made it a mess to empty and clean up. Eh…. Live and learn.).

There is a slight tannin line on the hull between the ablative and water line. That should clean up esay enough with soap and water and a soft brush. There are a couple small rub marks on the starboard side hull from where we bumped something that will require a little bit of elbow grease to clean off. A light pressure wash of the top deck and cockpit should clean up any accumulated grime from the past several months. Over all Over Easy has done remarkably well for her travels. Credit goes to Rodger MacGregor for making the Mac26X such a nice and easy boat to take care of!!! Thanks Rodger!

One thing I noticed after arriving home is that my Southern Honey Do List had several more items added to it!!!
Not sure how that happened while we were away but it has definitely expanded!
Guess I know what I’ll be doing for the next several weeks (months )

We had a GREAT Journey on Lake Champlain. We met several Mac owners who are fantastic! We got to meet many new friends in the marinas! We got to travel on a stunningly beautiful lake that invites us to comeback and explore more of it!

If you haven’t already visited Lake Champlain we highly recommend that you do!
If you have already been to Lake Champlain we recommend you need to return and explore it some more!
If you live near or on and sail regularly on Lake Champlain you have one of the most beautiful and enchanting places to be!





We hope you have enjoyed our little adventure and that this finds you and your loved ones safe, happy and healthy.

Best Regards to All,
Over Easy

The Journey Continues…..

[Jimmyt]

Really enjoyed your adventure! You did a nice job of sharing it with us. Glad you guys are home and safe and nothing is any the worse for wear.

[NiceAft]

Yes, indeed.

You did a wonderful documentary.

We have been sailing Lake George (connected to Champlain by a short creek) for the last 41 years, and understand your new found love of the Adirondacks, it’s neighboring areas, and their lakes.

Glad you’re home safe and sound.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

It’s not as if we don’t enjoy camping on the water in our Mac26X like we did on Lake Champlain VT for ten weeks but we also enjoy our Mac as a dry land camper as well!!!

We hooked up Friday 11/19 and went to Hunting Island State Park Campgrounds!
This is virtually on the beach camping next to the Atlantic on the South Carolina shore.

Pulled in a little before sunset and also caught the SPECTACULAR Moon rise!
What a nice and beautiful trip!

Hunting Island 🏝 Lighthouse at Sunset


Moon Rise!


Moon through the Palms


CampFire


Hunting Island Lighthouse at Dawn


Over Easy in “Dry Dock” Campsite


Hope you all have a safe, vaccinated and Happy Thanksgiving!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

The Journey Continues…..

PS: Please get vaccinated and get your booster shot if eligible.
The lives you save may be more than just your own.

[OverEasy]

December 30, 2021

Hi All!
Just a bit of a year end project status update….

Storage
In reviewing the very nice galley mod that Sheppie62 has started we saw a really nice idea on accessing the fwd galley bench using rectangular hatches. Sheppie62 has taken it beyond idea into reality! It looks great!

We will be looking at doing something similar but will try and stay with our removable bins like we did for our galley mod.
The space in the wedge below the top of the ballast transfer tube and port side hull is intriguing in that we might be able to use part of it for an intermediate grey water collection/transfer tank by making a custom one-off fiberglass tank to fit (just as a concept).
Transfer to the larger Grey water tank on the other side could be maybe via an air charge pressure transfer, diaphragm pump or gravity.
Then again I’m probably over thinking this and should just stick with a simple drain hose and gravity.

Still that wedge space has potential….

Sink/Fresh & Grey Water
Currently it’s looking good to move the Coleman Thermonic cooler fwd on the fwd galley bench and then fit in a small rectangular sink that can tuck away when not needed. The supply and drain hoses would need to be pretty flexible to tuck into the gap space available… maybe a section of that high flex metallic type hand held shower line? The sink drain would have a mesh strainer to keep debris/particulates out to avoid clogging….

We are going towards one-off conformal fiberglass grey water storage tanks in the wedge area between the starboard ballast transfer line and outer hull. This would have a dual empty capability. First would be a standard marina waste water suction system. That covers when we are using marinas but what when we aren’t and need to empty into a campground drain or manual transfer canisters or when at home?
For those cases we’re going to incorporate an aire “pressure” blow out utilizing a air mattress inflator pump to push the grey water up and out of the sanitary fitting into a transfer hose. The sanitary fitting and vent would be external on deck fittings clearly marked.

We would also make a removable conformal fiberglass fresh water tank that will fit in under the fwd and aft dinette bench spaces.
First the fwd bench tank and then if needed add additional capacity under the aft bench below the existing fiberglass cubby that is original to the Mac26X. We would have an external deck fill & vent ports remote from the sanitary fittings and clearly marked.

We are thinking that 5 gallon tanks for the fresh and grey water should be sufficient for cruising the ICW???
Maybe we are being too optimistic/minimalistic and having 10 gallon tanks would be more appropriate???
As we are still newbies at this any suggestions/advice/opinion is appreciated.

Black Water Pump-Out
So while manually removal and emptying of the port-o-potty has worked so far it would be nice to be able to use the marina pump-out system when available… but we don’t want to lock ourselves in to “only” being able to use a pump-out facility such as when we are camping or returning home from a trip.
To that end we are looking at making a “stinger” that could be inserted into the flush valve of the port-o-potty manually and have there be a black water sanitary fitting external on deck. Manually dumping in a couple of gallons of ‘clean’ water into the holding tank should be adequate to clear out the port-o-potty holding tank.
When not in use the “stinger” would be inserted into a sealed “holster” in the head room corner or in the cubby under the head sink out of the way and out of sight. While it might not meet all the regulations everywhere (such as in Canadian waters) it should be sufficient and still allow for our multi-functional use requirements.

Moving the A/C unit
This is something that we have gone back and forth on a couple times.
Having it on the same side as the battery set and galley causes a list to that side.
Moving cargo to compensate isn’t an ideal long term solution.
A/C is very much needed and enjoyed.
Undoing work already done is a bummer but it also opens up opportunity to improve the system by allowing us to reconfigure and incorporate an external inlet for the A/C condenser cooling air rather than using cabin air as it does now and balance out the boat.
Fribble on me for not doing this at the get go …

Shore power input
Still working out the details/locations/routings/components and how to be not only code compliant but address any galvanic issues at the same time.
Still planning on two shore power inputs, one up by the bow for when at a marina slip, and one at the stern for connection to a small 2000 watt gasoline inverter generator.

More thinking needed on how/where we would mount and protect a generator as having it open to the saltwater environments all the time isn’t gonna do the generator any favors. Sort of thinking a fiberglass or starboard or wood box with a removable aft face (when running) under the rear swing-up seat. Wonder if anyone else has done something similar??? Suggestions/opinions/advice???

Still looking for more info on a galvanic bridge to avert corrosion issues…. Any suggestions/advice/opinions are welcomed.

Removable Hard Dodger
We’ve made some headway on this aspect with the design.
Will be using 1/2 isocyanurate foam board and fiberglass for base construct.
It will replace and fit into where our existing sliding hatch is located and will be able to slide fwd/aft as needed.
Companionway panel will be replaced with a two piece side hinged smoked plexiglass set of doors that will fit to the existing panel tracks with retainer pins so they can be removed if desired. Each door to have closable weather tight vents…maybe with 1 VDC thin profile muffin fans?
The Dodger top would have SST grab rails (not as limber as I usedtobe ) on the sides.
Three large lightly smoked plexiglass panels for side views and a center top plexiglass panel for looking upwards with spring wound roll shades.
The Dodger top would also have a mast cradle support for when we are traveling with the mast down (on water and when on land.
The aft edges will incorporate the future capability to incorporate to an enclosure at a later date.
While we did give serious consideration to making the Dodger collapsible as four panels we decided that a single rigid structure tha slid fwd/aft woul best suit our needs at this stage. We also thought long and hard about having the front window panel of the Dodger capable of opening but eventually decided against it. If needed we feel we could retrofit that feature in the future.
Compliant foam rubber lip seals will be included to keep out the weather and bugs. An interior dome light and under top lip LED deck/cockpit light will be incorporated. Power connection to be via a protected slide in plug when the Dodger is closed. (We didn’t see much need for Dodger lighting when it would be open and it avoids the mess of curly-Q wire and such. )
Plan is to make it more than sufficiently strong so we can both sit or stand on it if desired with the top fiberglass portion grip textured.

Front & Rear Arches
Not a whole lot of progress so far on these to be honest.
Looked at making from SST tubing, from aluminum, from wood, from fiberglass and combined materials.
SST tubing would cost the most from a materials perspective but fairly rapid to accomplish while being strong and weather resistant and also relatively light weight.
Fiberglass over foam would be the lightest but take the most time due to forming & finishing requirements.
Wood is a perpetual maintenance aspect that gives me pause and may not be as strong pound for pound as the other options.
Aluminum is tempting but would in all likelihood require welding and anodizing. Not things I can do with existing equipment I have available currently.
At this time the SST tubing approach is willing.
Arches are desired to support the mast when transiting by land or water, eventually supporting a solar array and full weather/screened enclosure.
Interior finished height of the arch is to be 6-1/2 feet up from the cockpit floor and also allowing for entry/exit fro three sides.

Mast Stepping
This is so we can lower the mast to a horizontal position when on the water for navigating as a cruiser …
Best approach so far would be to cut the mast at the appropriate height, provide cable bracing to the bottom stump to cabin roof, an aft side hinge and an internal sliding sleeve splice.

Roller Furler Main Sail
This is a fairly high priority, as with my mobility issues clamoring up on deck to haul up/down the main sail isn’t one of those things I’m going to be able to do comfortably nor possibly as safely as I’d like.
Not interested in any “performance losses” as they are actually minimal in comparison to the safety and convenience aspects.
Will probably require modification of our existing main sail to remove battens and add a luff.
Modification to boom and goose neck.
Intent is to not need any modification to spreaders or cable stays.
Furling/unfurling to be accomplished from aft seat.
We’ve looked at several systems that others have accomplished on other sailboats as well as on Mac26.
It’s doable and as safe (Or in my case safer) than clamoring up on deck while underway.
We’ve already started to gather the components and materials.
A couple custom components need to be designed, fabricated, sourced but progressively this is moving forward.

New Engine
Still on order for nearly 9 months so far and not much progress.
I will be attempting to replace/rebuild the carbs and fuel pump on our 20 year old Tohatsu in the coming months among the other tasks to do as a backstop option to improve the reliability & performance until we can get our new engine.
This is still a very much a wait…wait…wait aspect before we can get to exploring the ICW or longer trips afield.
Kind of disappointing but it is what it is.

Then there are still the multiple home projects to accomplish such as kitchen remodel, rear windows and doors to replace in SC.
In NH the driveway is shot and needs senior refurbishment along with replacement of retaining walls and yard leveling.
These are physical challenges for me that can only be accomplished with help and a slow but steady incremental approach.
Little bits of progress every day on multiple fronts is the only realistic option.

I’m still hoping to at least get the Admiral and Over Easy to Charleston (SC), Edisto Island (SC), Savanna (GA) while down South.
Also hoping to get back North to Lake Champlain (VT) for several weeks if possible and visit with our daughter a UVM in the summer.

It’s a plan that we may not get all done but it’s sort of like that phrase my Dad would tell me:
“Aim for the Stars, if you miss then at least you stand a better chance of hitting the mountain tops!”

As 2021 draws to a close,
We are grateful for our health, the health of our immediate family and that of our friends.
We are grateful for the members of this forum and unique community of MacGregor Sailors.
We are grateful for the health and well being of those same community members and that of their families and friends.

The COVID-19 Pandemic is still as bad as ever with the new variants, increased hospitalizations and increased mortalities.
It is not any better than in 2020 largely due to those that aren’t vaccinated.
It would be SO MUCH WORSE if it were not for the incredible accomplishments of all those involved in making the Covid-19 vaccines reality
The sense of loss and suffering is personal as I have seen it up close and personal earlier in life.
Please get vaccinated if you haven’t, get a booster when you can, practice social distancing, wear a mask when appropriate, help others.

We SINCERELY hope for a better and safer 2022 for everyone.

Best Regards to All,
Over Easy

[opie]

OverEasy,

You have a knack for compliments so I thought I would return the favor and say that I read all 15 pages above for the first time. Compliments to you for sharing your super journey into Mac ownership!

Even though I had noticed your multi-page posting many times, I always felt too busy to delve into it. I must admit it was very interesting and informative. I have some goals/questions now after reading it all.

1. We HAVE to travel up to Lake Champlain with our Mac in tow!! (Mac group get-together there this next summer?)

2. Did you get your new outboard yet? (two suggestions - rebuild your carbs yourself. I have to do that almost every year at zero cost. And one time I had surging and it was due to a bad voltage regulator.)

3. All the rest of your mods look great. We have had our 1999 MacX for over 15 years now. It was totally unmodded when we bought it and in my curmudgeonly way, except for LED lights, I have added nothing, cut nothing, and it is basically the way it left the factory. Not for everyone, but works for me for some reason. I do realize that mods are extremely satisfying to almost everyone else.

Opie

[kmclemore]

..... 1. We HAVE to travel up to Lake Champlain with our Mac in tow!! (Mac group get-together there this next summer?) .....
Opie

We're down for that. As many of you know, my wife and I have property on the lake, up near Rouses Point. We are happy to help and participate.

[OverEasy]

Hi Opie and KMcLemore!

Item 1) Lake Champlain Meet-up

Yes! A meet-up on Lake Champlain would be a really great idea!!!
It is a truly beautiful place!
(And BIG too with a lot to do too!)


We’d love it!

Item 2) Outboard

Nope , no new outboard as yet.
It’s disappointing but the world is what it is and we’d rather the factory people be safe and healthy and get to have a full life over our getting an engine. Mind you we would still like an engine but not at the expense of someone else’s health and safety.

The engine is on order and hopefully it arrives in time for the 2022 season….. it sure would be nice to have a new reliable, quite, efficient engine

Meanwhile, yes it looks like rebuilding/replacing the carbs, reeds and fuel pump and water pump are in order.
With parts in hand on the hard those s/b doable over a long weekend with a spare set of hands occasionally.
That’s about as far as we’re willing to go with it though… really not wanting to get into doing a full overhaul (as I might have done at sometime in the past…just not into that at this stage of life been there/done that/got the dirty tee shirts )
Too many other projects needing to get priority…

Item 3) Modifications

We’re firm believers that each to their own.
There is everything right about leaving a boat stock as well as modifying it.

For us we want to eventually cruise the Atlantic ICW North and South.
We would also like to possibly explore much more of Lake Champlain, the Chesapeake Bay, Florida Keys, the Hudson, Erie Canal, and maybe even the Maine Coast including Arcadia… never mind the land destinations we would like to get to with our Mac26X as a travel trailer RV…..while some of that might not come to pass they are still on the list!

As such we feel that the mods we’ve accomplished and those planned would make those places that much more attainable…. (Plus it keeps us busy … can’t be bored if there’s things to do ).

Best Regards
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Vita Interrutio Levitas of Consilia ……..

It’s the beginning of March 2022 and we’re still stuck in the cold north of New Hampshire!
The original plan in mid December had been a quick trip up north from South Carolina 🏝 for Christmas and (maybe) New Years with our daughters. Everything was going according to plan…. The daughters had both been able to come home, the lake had a sheet of ice from shore to shore, the white snowy stuff had dusted everything… the Christmas tree had been selected-cut-decorated… the house lights hung… the Christmas Dinner of Lobsters & Pesto Pasta…. The New Year was on our own as the daughters went out to be with their masked and vaccinated friends (but we had the fireworks at home anyway ).

Things were going along nicely until we were starting to wrap things up an winterize the house in the first few days of January 2022 when I experienced a bit of a medical crisis which sent me to the Emergency Room not once, but twice, on the same day! Without going into the excruciating details it seems that guys past a certain age can internally make their own ballast stones. Fortunately there are some good medical facilities up here in NH and some temporary mitigation relief could be had until a surgery could be scheduled. Unfortunately because of the surging COVID-19 hospitalizations (primarily due to unvaccinated individuals) there weren’t any non-life-threating surgeries being allowed at any of the hospitals in the entire state.

So we had to wait, and wait, and wait. Meanwhile, my Primary Doctor got me into one of the best Surgeons who personally interceded with each of the hospitals to find one that could provide the required surgical facilities needed. She was amazing(!) and I’m extremely grateful for her intercession on my behalf! So finally 10 painful days later she was able to operate and relief could be had! Whew!

Because of the (COVID-19 overwhelmed hospitals) delayed surgery some internal infections set in and the past month and a half has been spent recuperating and recovering which is still ongoing. We’re hoping to be given the green light to be able to head back to South Carolina in mid March if things continue to improve.

Meanwhile we’ve had to contend with our extended winter stay in New England with all the tasks associated. The Admiral has been a real Trooper through all of this!!!

Needless to say all of our prior plans for our home in SC and Over Easy have been put on hold for the time being. Hopefully we can salvage some of what we had planned to accomplish …..

Life is what it is sometimes. Just very grateful for what we get even if it’s not what was expected.
The world changes in a moment.

Please take a moment to think and empathize with the Ukrainian people as they struggle valiantly for their survival against a horrible authoritarian dictator. What these people are enduring far out weighs anything I have experienced.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[Highlander]

Not to get into too much detail last yr I had cancer surgery delayed for up to eight months because of the self righteous non vaxxers who said covid was all a hoax " I wonder where they got that idea from !" but they had no issue when they came down with covid taking up all the Hospital beds & medical staff , so after while I waited for 8 months that was now consumed with follow up lab , mri, mri fusion day surgery , cat scans, 3 full body bone scans it was decided I needed surgery within 3 months or it was gonna b too late ! , so my lady surgeon her co-surgeon got together & pushed their agenda thru 6 wks later I got my surgery . Three months recovery & so far all,s been good last three test results came back clear I had neighbors & friends children who had radiation treatment delayed because of these so called infamous non vaxxers , so understand why I think non vaxxers who played with death & lost r self inflicted & should wait in line like everyone else ur choice to non vax doe,s not make u the "chosen one" when u come down with covid U took that road too bad so sad ur choice not mine ! so why should I or other's pay the price & not U !, all that said after being double vaxxed I came down with covid this Jan & was able to self isolate at home for 21 days was told my symptoms were considered mild I felt like sh_t & thought i,d been run over by a 20 mile long freight train so can,t even imagine what u,d go thru being non vaxxed " why would someone choose to go thru a chance of death like that is beyond me ! " , when I realized I was coming down with covid knowing I was double vaxxed I did,nt run to the hospital I went on line checked my stats took the advise I was given & stayed home for 21 days eating only chicken noodle soup it was the only thing I could taste I guess because so much salt in it . I thought well maybe some good will come out of it if I can lose some weight " didn't happen " , anyways all recovered now so I kinder know what u went thru & wish u all the best recovery & anyone else who on here might b havin some health issues take care.


Now not to get to pollical involve I do feel sadly about what's going on in Ukraine , a now "fascist" government seeing Communism didn't work for them very well , is again wanting & trying too take over the world sadly we know C____ & N____ K____ will b following suit very shortly

I hope this doe,s not get booted , but I,ll understand if it doe,s & I don,t get a spanking !

Self appointed Dr J

[Highlander]

Now If a spanking is in order I had Peaches in mind not once , not twice but thrice

J

[OverEasy]

Hi Highlander!

I’m so very sorry your cancer diagnosis and treatment was delayed.
That must have been both terrifying and frustrating for you and your family.
I can only imagine what you and your family went through during those months upon months of grossly unnecessary delays of critical care due to those willfully negligent individuals who chose not to be vaccinated with the multiple good, safe and highly effective vaccines available. Yes, these self-indulgent 90+% of COVID-19 infected hospitalized individuals have now made a fully avoidable crisis. A crisis that has resulted in irreparable harm to thousands upon thousands of innocent individuals who were denied critical timely care and treatment due to overwhelmed medical and hospital facilities. Again, I’m so sorry you had to endure that.

My medical delay issues, while extremely painful and the complications avoidable, are nothing compared to what you and the countless others impacted have had to needlessly endure going through.

There was a photo I recently saw of Ukrainian people preparing to defend in the Ukrainian city of Odessa from invasion. In the background were what appear to be a pair of MacGregor sailboats in the background. One appears to be a Mac26X and the other a Mac26M. This brings home to us in a personal way how the unprovoked violent military aggression of Russia upon Ukraine is adversely impacting otherwise ordinary peaceful people. Those aren’t snow piles, those are sand bags. They are digging up their beach to fill the sandbags.



It personalizes what is currently happening over there for us. These are ordinary people of common interests who with a real demonstrated sense of social responsibility are doing what they can to defend their country, homes and families from naked unprovoked military aggression. Our thoughts and prayers go out to These courageous people.

We can only hope that any, and all, those that ever associated themselves or cozied up with Vladimir Putin fully and painfully get what’s due them in full measure wherever they try to hide.

Highlander, We sincerely hope that you continue to make good progress with your condition and continued recovery.
Thank you for you kind words and thoughts.

We also have to hope that those who were hospitalized for COVID-19, regardless of being vaccinated or not, also recover and heal.
It’s what we do as constructive members of society do. We look beyond ourselves and try to make things better when and where we can.

Meanwhile life tries to go on as best as it can.

Back to your anchor winch mod…..
Thanks for the link to some of the pictures.
I’d very much like to see more if/when that becomes possible.
Please pardon me if I missed something but does winch dump the chain into the existing anchor locker or did you make modification to have it have additional depth for a new chain fall locker?

Best Regards
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All,

Amidst all the medical issues and crisis we are all faced with we have some good news!

We have been happily informed that our long awaited new engine has finally arrived!
Yippie!

This is a big relief for us!
Now all we have to do is get back down to SC to get some things done there, remove the old engine and get back up to NH in June for the new engine/instrumentation/controls to be installed! (It’s been a long year! )

While we incrementally and continuously improved the performance of the old 50hp Tohatsu (vintage circa 2001) the reliability at any given time was always a consideration… We’d been able overtime to raise it’s performance from 25% to nearly 80% power but we’re hesitant to invest too heavily into the time and costs needed to get our 20+ year old engine back to full capacity. Even if that were possible the reliability aspect and operational noise were still to be contended with.

Yes, we boldly went forth and explored our local bays and estuaries of the Beaufort SC area and went on our trip to spend 70 wonderfully enjoyable nights on Lake Champlain VT last year. It all worked out but there was always something of a pucker factor when out and about. There were several times when conducting docking maneuvers where the engine found the most in opportune times to cut-out! To get any stability we found we had to increase the idle speed upward ‘a bit’ which only added to the thrills

Our hope is that with the new engine, once it’s broken in and we are comfortable with it, we can finally start to venture further afield on the ICW both North and South of Beaufort SC as well as seriously contemplate the possibilities of the Hudson River, Erie and Champlain Canals and getting back to the wonderfully beauty of Lake Champlain.

Knowing that the engine has finally arrived is a huge relief!

Best Regards to All
Over Easy