SPLASH!!!

[RussP]

Well after 6 weeks of hard work and gallons of sweat we splashed KAHUNA with diesels today. Just amazing!!!

We picked up 2 Perkins 6-354 Fish Killer diesels from Brewester Minton (thanks Brewester) and 2 ZF 63A gears from Bruce (thanks Bruce) and proceeded to gut the cockpit and engine beds in prep for the new motors. Replaced all through hull fitting, strut & rudder post cushioning, glassed in shaft tubes W/ drippless seals cut down motor mounts and built towers for the inboard mounts and dropped in the freshly painted motors. Rebuilt the deck supports and replaced coring in the deck hatches and nonskidded and Awl-Gripped the decks. This was an amazing amount of work but well worth it. My father in-law worked with me every day along with Linda on weekends and her Vacation.

The only glitch was hooking up the shifters backwards; we had a 50/50 shot at getting it right.

I still have a S%#@ eating grin on my face from the trip back. The GPS wouldn’t find the satellites so I don't know the exact speeds @ cruise & top end but it'll blow your hat right off @ 1600 RPM

I'll try to post some pictures later right now I need a clear to help keep the high going.

RussP the happy diesel 31 steward.

[Brewster Minton]

Thats awsome!!Im glad it runs good.

[Bruce]

Russ,
Imagine doing that 5 or 6 times a year along with everything else.
Congrats, you owe me a fishing trip.

Wish you and Linda the best of fun!

[Capt Dick Dean]

Russ, great job. I like the "Fish Killer" phrase. So congradulations!

And, of course, there is a question. I would suppose the engines were take outs and dropped right in. Right?

[Mikey]

My favorite word, "SPLASH!"
Hope I get to say that one day
Back to work.

[randall]

good luck russ......its just better to work on your own boat!!