Iphoto on my old macbook is a history book of our recent lives. In 'events', I stumbled on a set of photos I remember well. June 6-install engine, day. "What!?", I think, "was I crazy?" Then it all comes back.

The failing engine in the fall, looking into a rebuild, pricing new engines(yikes!), then a call to a local tractor supply connects me to a mechanic, 4 miles from home. He has an engine with a story-- "I was the sole care giver for the elderly woman's Nissan 4WD PU she bought new in 1984. She put 74, 000 miles on the truck in 20 years. So when the truck rusted and rotted out, I bought it from her because the rare SD-22 Diesel was in such good condition, I stored the truck for a future project, ran it once a year".

The project never came to the mechanic so he sold it to me for $1,000. He fired it up in the truck and I wrote him a check. I trusted him. A few days later, it was deposited in my truck.

What the mechanic didn't know and was amazed to hear, the SD-22 Nissan diesel was marinized by Chrysler Marine in the 60's and 70's, and placed in a few new boats(a second engine in my boat), both power and sail.

In fact, the SD-22 was then a decade old having been designed for remote water pumps and power generators. He had the last re-incarnation of the SD-22 in the Nissan PU, which had a higher RPM governor installed instead of the original low RPM service engine I needed.

So I swapped my 1974 manually governed Bosch high pressure diesel injection pump, marine manifold and other misc. from my failing Chrysler Nissan Marine diesel, onto the Nissan PU diesel(a high priced option for the standard truck).

This photo was taken June 8. Nate, our travel lift operator showed up after the photo. He on the controls, a helper on deck, and me in the cabin, she was in by noon! All that was left were hoses, exhaust connection, paint bottom, varnish mast,...etc.

Skimming forward, I stumbled on a photo of my son helping me pull the mast over on the 17th, for an 18th launch. Not bad!

I only recall the whole engine swap experience, as fun! The engine today thrills me every time I fire it up. Even in cold weather, it roars to life. In 7 years this mostly pleasant and educational work has returned huge dividends every time I use the boat. And the small cost makes it all the more satisfying.

Boat work - if you do it correctly, is a good for your health, good for your wallet.