Proper Dive

Finally, I was able to coordinate with the local recommended diver. This guy is cool. Free dives for all of the services he offers. It means he's a lot quicker and nimble getting right to work when he arrives. So he was in the water and getting the old nut off the prop shaft then the old prop off in no time at all. While our family--including our new pup Ginger--watched from the dock. 

But then we learned that the old prop shaft key would not work in the new Campbell Sailor prop. So the diver went two docks down to do a cleaning on a neighbor's boat while my kid and I visited many marine shops and one great hardware store looking for a 3/16" square bronze key. 

No luck at any of those stops, so we got a file out and clamped the existing key into a locking pliers and then in a jeweler's vice, and went to work. The trick was not to remove enough material and keep it as close to square as possible. A couple hours later, the diver was back and the new, old key worked. 

Didn't get out on the boat yesterday but may do that today. I was able to get the puppy on the boat for the first time while I puttered around. She slept soundly the whole time. Must've been wiped out from all the excitement of the day. 

Then my wife joined me aboard for an evening nightcap. We got to test the wine that comes in stacked cups and it was pretty good. I also tested out the mood lighting of the old oil lamp on board.

All in all a great day, and we never left the dock. Boat ownership is fun even when we're not sailing.