Hauled out at Baja Naval

Finally, finally, finally!  Everything lined up and we were able to haul Discovery.  This would be the first time in the 2 years we have owned her that she has been hauled.  Long overdue to fix 2 frozen seacocks, but her bottom was in remarkably good shape.  if not for the under the water line work, I would not have had her bottom done at this time.

In addition to installing the 2 thru hulls, backing plates, adapter flanges, & seacocks via Compass Marine's method, the prop and shaft were pulled, shaft trued, new correct coupler machined to fit, new prop (surprise! old one was toast), new cutlass bearing, and a PSS dripless shaft seal installed.  I also changed the water lift muffler since it is directly under the shaft and can only be removed with the shaft out of the boat.  This was done to allow a better configuration of the exhaust hose from the mixing elbow, which eliminated a pinch point between the tranny and an engine mount.  When the prop and shaft were out, I ran them back up to California, for the shaft work at Wilmington Iron Works, and the new prop from Wilmington Propellers.

floated into position

It's quite the spectacle for the pedestrians on the malecon when a boat gets hauled as the throughway to the yard crosses it and they close it off as the lift takes your boat in

For those who have never seen this process, you can watch a bit of it here

as I said, bottom was in great shape

no bueno

old parts removed

new thru hull dry fit

finished installation

guys at Wilmington Iron tuning the threads of the shaft for new prop nuts

some larger shafts

for scale

bottom paint finished

Israel & Alfredo.  don't know what happened to Alfredo's smile here

muy bueno!

exhaust elbow and hose reconfigured

new correct coupler and water lift muffler below shaft

new PSS dripless shaft seal

Steve Jobs monster privat ship was also in town

my wife will understand this photo

Had a great experience with Baja Naval, and Discovery is pretty much ready(enough) to head south.  Apologies to my readers (like 3 of ya?) for the heavy boat mechanical language, hopefully there will be more cruising posts in the near future.