Friday 19th April - Today, I will get my shaft out!

After yesterday’s calamities, I awoke with a stolid determination. Collette started on cleaning the upper helm and by 10am I had cleared the wheelhouse and was down amongst it getting greasy. First job was to check the shaft with a dti guage very kindly loaned me by Paul from the club. Reminded me of how lucky I was to be a member of GCC and all the support and friendship we have come to treasure. Lift in supper tomorrow, will miss being there but hope you all have a great night. Will miss it! The guage showed a 15thousandth bend. Huge according to Simon. Ok let’s get it out.

At 7.30pm the shaft was finally extracted from the boat. The interim 9 ½ hours are too tedious and complicated to relate but suffice to say that it was an absolute bitch of a job which had not only me in utter dismay over how this bloody thing was ever gonna come out but having called in Simon Evans, he too was at a loss as to the best way forward. In the end as ever, it was really a case of be brave, cut and remove things and then use brute force with a crowbar.

After a hot shower, Simon joined me for a beer to discuss options.

We fell into bed exhausted but at least the bloody shaft was out!