Pulling out the wiring harness from engine room last weekend and this weekend was just part of the project as the new engines will arrive with a wiring harness replacing the throttle and gear cables. The process of removing all the switches for lighting, ignition, alarms, etc. was a large one, especially since the ships systems integrate into the same helm console. That's all removed now, and I'm in the process of organizing the existing wiring so that it will all be a neat and clean install. Obviously, over the years, many wires have been run a various times, so there is a "nest of a mess" in some area which are now fully accessible.

I've made decisions as to new replacement switches, instrument packages, and have made a template for the cutting of a new helm console (see photo). I've also found a company nearby (pretty lucky) who will cut out the new console of 1/16" aluminum or stainless in the pattern I've designed. I'm going to finalize some dimensions based on pending information from Cummins, and then I'll deliver it to Savannah for the "water jet" fabrication of the cutout. I hope all the dimensions I get from Cummings will match the equipment, I'll be pretty upset if they don't.

The engine room is slowly taking shape with new aluminum side panels and ceiling panels to "dress it up" and I've order new 110 volt florescent lighting and 12 volt LED lighting for the engine room. This was not originally planed for, and it seems to be taking an excessive amount of labor time.

Over the weekend I removed the rest of the insulation from the engine room, removed some built-in shelves and drawers and water lines which ran to the previously installed water maker. I also removed the throttles, and gear controls and cables to the engine room, and removed the old wiring harnesses along with the helm control panel (and 1000 wires) which will need to be redesigned following receipt of the "Vessel View" controls and digital system screen.

Friday the Cummins QSC 8.3 540 HO Engines were order. The order was confirmed in an e-mail today, and delivery to Summerville is expected May 25, 2007.

Yesterday the port engine was removed in it's entirety. Deposit made for the order of the new Cummins 8.3 540 HO QSC engines. Expect them in about 24 days or so. The original lead time was 35 days, but since we've involved a local dealer, he is to pick up the engines and drive them to Palmetto Bay for installation and save about 10 days or so. The removal went well. We are now in the process of cleaning the engine room, installation new insulation and new aluminum finishing walls. It should look great in the engine room when Buddy's all done.

Photo is a shot of the custom crane used to lift the engine. Minimal head height distance required with reach of this custom machine.

After a great deal of effort this spring, we finally hired mechanics, who determined something went wrong in the starboard engine block. To fix this engine would require the purchase of a new block and many thousands towards fixing old 2 stroke technology while also rebuilding the port engine. The My Time was delivered to the boat yard Arpil 1 while we consider the options and possiblity of repowering with Electronic Cummins 8.3 540 HO engines. We removed the starboard Detroit 692 engine and 1.51:1 twindisk transmission and we've made a template of the Cummins engine, seen in photo below, with a ZF 1.75:1 transmission. We evaluated many different proposals and installation options with various engines and yards; we seriously considered Yanmar 480 HP diesels, but at this time the Cummins have some advantages in the comparision, (horse power, cost, noise, and torque). We expect to be provided answers from Cummins today to some final questions to help us finalize the options and to order the engines. The production of the engines is now at a 35 day cycle, which will allow us to prepare the engine room, clean, repaint, remove controls, and reinsulate; while we also perform other work on the bottom and running gear.

Oh yeah, forgot to say we decided to remove the rear partition wall (see upper photo) to make to process less time consuming on the removal and re-install of the engines. Because of the removal, we will also install a new partition wall, eliminating a window, and creating more usable wall space in the cockpit, while probably changing the door from a sliding door to a newer aluminum swing door.