Haul out was first thing in the morning and hanging in the travel lift we needed to start repairs immediately.

I already had the electric motor out, a new flexible coupling and a new gearleg. A subcontracter from the marina helped me to install the new gearleg from outside with a sealer curing under water. Once we had the new flexible coupling and electric motor in place it was time for relaunch. Testing the thruster all was well but due to low tide we were stuck in the mud. With a combination of reverse power from John Deere and manpower pulling long ropes we managed to get out on Adams Creek again heading for anchorage outside the village of Oriental.

With haul out,spare parts,and costs for sub contractor the cost for changing gear leg on a Sleipner bow thruster was around 3.000Usd .

The sub contractor charged 140Usd/hr. Before the pandemia cost for a mechanic doing jobs on boats was around 50Usd/hr in Scandinavia . In Canary Islands last year a marine electrician charged 70Usd/hr. Present costs for labour in the US is obviously higher but have probably increased also in Europe.

With this development ordinary people working for salaries will not be able to enjoy blue water cruising. A “ Coconut Milkrun “ dominated by mega yachts would be a sad future