I had the drive train checked out prior to shipping the boat to Ashland. I'm disappointed the mechanic missed what I now know should have been caught.
Diesel engines on large sailboats are more than back-up systems, they can be used to motor the boat endless hours or even days. That's why I decided to install a new transmission in lieu of repairing it. Panta Rhei now has a completely new drivetrain from the engine to the propeller. The four cylinder diesel Kubota engine is know to be one of the most reliable engines on the market routinely running for 20,000 hrs before major overhauls. So now, it's just warming up.
The new transmission / drive train runs silky smooth giving me confidence that it can easily push the boat all the way to the Bahamas should we never catch a breeze.
Above is the transmission sitting pier. Below on the right is a photo as it comes up from behind the engine still attached to the bell housing . On the left below is the engine covered with boat cushions giving me a soft spot the lay while I removed the transmission. With this chore out of the way, our plan spend the rest of the summer and fall exploring the islands before we move on sometime next summer. No sense rushing as the Apostle Islands have a lot to explore.
Diesel engines on large sailboats are more than back-up systems, they can be used to motor the boat endless hours or even days. That's why I decided to install a new transmission in lieu of repairing it. Panta Rhei now has a completely new drivetrain from the engine to the propeller. The four cylinder diesel Kubota engine is know to be one of the most reliable engines on the market routinely running for 20,000 hrs before major overhauls. So now, it's just warming up.
The new transmission / drive train runs silky smooth giving me confidence that it can easily push the boat all the way to the Bahamas should we never catch a breeze.
Above is the transmission sitting pier. Below on the right is a photo as it comes up from behind the engine still attached to the bell housing . On the left below is the engine covered with boat cushions giving me a soft spot the lay while I removed the transmission. With this chore out of the way, our plan spend the rest of the summer and fall exploring the islands before we move on sometime next summer. No sense rushing as the Apostle Islands have a lot to explore.