Eureka and an alleluia!

     .....Now a new diagnosis - maybe engine mounts, they said.  Skipper had been suspicious of those.
It's Saturday, nothing else we can do today. Looks like SpringDay will receive new biceps (engine mounts) as an outpatient here at the marina on Monday.

  Now one of the Sub Zero refrigerators stops working again.  One monitor in the pilot house refuses to wed the software, the Vacu flush toilet in guest room still waiting to resume her spooky blast.     Nevertheless we press on, happy that SpringDay in not under Obamacare.

     Slumped over in our Stressless chairs [by the bye, the perfect oxymoron; Stressless chairs on a boat!], we look at each other in disbelief of this very long streak of bad luck, and I shut down. Snooze time. Somewhat refreshed we head over to the fuel dock for SpringDay's feeding time. A thirst worth twenty-five hundred gallons; holding the nozzle to her mouth, the idea of cramming Flinstone vitamins down her throat crosses my mind!

     The fuel attendant is very pleasant and we chat.  I asked if he knew someone who could figure out this vibration curse.  He reaches for his phone and calls Dave. Ten minutes, Dave a very experienced boat/yacht mechanic, shows up at the dock.  The privacy Act is broken and Dave receives

  SpringDay's medical information.   Still tied to the fuel dock and armed with renewed hope, they walk in the operating room, stand by her heart, four eyes for stethoscope fixed on engine mounts.    Skipper's left arm reaches up to the starter.  Revved up for less than 20 seconds, she grumbles and roars, from upstairs I hear her arrhythmia, then it stops.

     Lili!  Lili! I rush down.  We got it!  The aft starboard mount was very loose. With tools at hand they torqued, muscle permitting but stronger tools are needed. Sea trial. Smiles all around. Monday surgery is cancelled and replaced by a "meeting" at the boat yard and final torque (744 pound-force-feet). Wow! It must have been finger tight before.

     How could something so simple elude the most astute?  How could something that crucial be botched by the very first nurse!  Skipper, formerly test pilot during Vietnam era, says he was always at the helm driving, accelerating and decelerating for the expert ears to hear, remorseful that he should have found the problem himself at the get go.  All is well. Alleluia!

Thinking of you...