Rousseau's Boat yard
Seascapes Travel Log
Michael Grew
Thu 10 Jun 2010 12:26
At 08:00hrs as promised yesterday we left Halte Fluviale marina and motored down to the boat yard and moored up against a large house boat and waited for instructions to move into a position where the work could be done. I waited all day at the boat. Maureen went off on the bike to get some shopping. I should have gone as well, since no word came from the boat yard. At 17:00hrs being an impatient sort of chap I went and spoke to Mr. Rousseau to ask what was happening (if anything!) He apologised and said he had had some problems, but would be able to fit us in the following morning once a large motor cruiser he had been working on, left the mooring. (Another day wasted) It rained on and off most of the day.
09/06/2010 Rouseau’s Boatyard, Moret-sur-Loing.
Waited ,moored against the huge houseboat, for the motor cruiser Prius to vacate the berth where, hopefully, we will have our gearbox leak fixed. At last, at 10:30hrs the cruiser moved and we were able to slot in against the old barge that the yard use as a mooring. To our surprise it wasn’t too long before a technician ( mechanic) arrived to look at the problem. He looked down into the engine bay blew out his cheeks and came out with a string of Gallic expressions of disgust . I thought blimey that is going to reflect in the final bill! I gained the impression that he had not a clue where to start. Conversations with him was extremely difficult since he spoke no English, I spoke no French and Maureen speaks no technical language. The boss, Mr Rousseau ( who speaks reasonable English) came to our rescue and assured us that his man did know what he was doing. I rang two friends that were of a technical disposition for independent advice and, of course, got confliction stories one insisted the engine had to come out completely the other said it didn’t ! Meanwhile our technician had raised the back end of the engine and slid the gearbox out without a problem. In the workshop the problem was confirmed it was the oil seal that had gone but fortunately had not damaged the main shaft . The replacement seal was ordered and now comes the wait for it to be delivered from Nevers. It did not stop raining hard all day until around 18:00hrs meaning we were cooped up in the saloon with little or nothing to do. ( the booze cupboard was empty and all the chocolate eaten!) Needless to say boredom quickly set in. As soon as the rain stopped we cycled to the supermarket and replenished supplies.