. This has been a fraught few weeks, while waiting for the tranny rebuild and reinstall (my own fault for the last 2 weeks - it was too darn hot to let the mechanic into the ER - last thing I wanted was to find him desiccated in the bilge on Monday - so I slapped a stop order on work until it dropped below 90), and did some woodworking and cosmetics work, and worked on the new-ish hard dinghy.
Everything mechanical went back together today, and I took her out for a quick sea-trial in Herring Bay (south of Annapolis for the non-Chessie members).
Result was very good. Maryland Transmissions in Churchton MD apparently did a fine rebuild of the Hurth, and also ordered the correct, and updated, damper plate from Seattle. This was altered slightly on the WW2 era lathe at GPS Engineering in Edgewater, to accommodate the bell housing bolts, and Tim at Hidden Harbor assembled the whole kit and caboodle, in high 80s temps and humidity, thus allowing me to run around the Bay today - Happy Camper indeed!!! Less vibration, noise levels down (it is still a 4D61, though), better gear shifting and smoother running.
I'll be posting pics of the work done and the resurrected Mazboot shortly, and providing details of the new bits installed - engine mounts; transmission and damper plate, raw water filter and new wiring at the helm - thanks Ron - and (dare I say it?) some new wooden stuff.