Not a fun launch - arggg

I am totally pissed.  A boot load of $$ to repair the P Strut, shaft and cutlass bearing.  It was done a few days before launch.  I worked like crazy on the hull, raising the water line, painting a new boot stripe and cleaning and polishing.  Went into the water on Saturday looking like a million bucks. 

 Launch went fine except the water was not pumping to cool the engine - solved that when I discovered the water pump belt was not on the pulley!  Put it on and it went just fine.  It was then that I noticed water trickling in from the fiberglass mound over the P strut repair.  Not good.  And now I am running down to the marina twice a day to pump out the bilge (don't have an electric one - just the old manual pump).

I called the mechanic who at first didn't believe me - but he finally showed up on Sunday and tried applying some water proof epoxy stuff that didn't work.  The only solution he said was to haul it out and redo the repair.  He made arrangements with a yard in Toronto (about 8 miles from here) to haul it out and asked me to take it over in the morning.  I reluctantly agreed and cleared my work schedule for the morning.  But tonight, I went down to double check things.  Did the usual bilge pump thing, checked the rate of flow (which was a small trickle) and then thought I would start the engine and test it out in gear (a friend was on hand to watch for anything changing at the site of the repair).  As soon as I put it in gear, he yelled at me to turn off the engine as the water increased from a trickle to a steady stream.  Thankfully, the water flow decreased when I turn of the engine.  I suspect the P Strut is still loose in there.

I phoned the mechanic and told him that there was no way in hell I was motoring to Toronto with the risk of a total failure midway.  He suggested that perhaps I could sail it over!!  So now I am in a battle with the mechanic to get it towed over ASAP and fixed once and for all!  Next time I do it myself!

Oh how I envy every one else having a stress free launch!

Just venting....


UPDATE:  the mechanic phoned and has arranged for a tow in the morning and has hired an expert to do the job right!  


UPDATE #2:  picked up the boat on Friday in Toronto and motored back to Mimico checking the repair every 15 minutes.  Not a drip - so far so good!!