So, after a week and more days Carl calls and says she is ready. I grab Bill. Debra drops us off in the rain at the boat yard. Sky is black. Wind is blowing, according to Carl, like stink.

Carl shows the bill, explaining he lost money on the labor and is splitting out of pocket expenses.

Then we go down to see QT. Carl is pleased with our reaction. He obviously takes pride in the work and is eager to share the adventure of it with us. He tells us everything went smoothly until the exhaust hose replacement. Who ever got the idea it should be foamed in is still laughing evilly. Days to change it, plus 2 new access plates behind the stove.

He shows us the engine “room”. There is more space; points out the new through hull and raw water strainer. Then the moved Racor; the fuel return, the heat exchanger’s zinc; the throttle and fuel cut off link. Says no more bleeding except for the new ‘radiator’ overflow tank. Says he had to turn the water lifter around – made me feel good that I had hit on the same solution – then the fancy new engine mounts raised forward and lowered aft. Glistening white.

Then on deck. Holds the pre-heat, touches the start and instant running. Says the new prop, 13 x 11 will need tweaking after we put a few hours on it. We’re getting a little over 3100 rpm when he was expecting closer to 3500. A tweak will do it. Props are a bit of art and science matched to the hull shape. Adds for gods sake, never lock the prop forward.

Engine is on; tis unobtrusively quiet; its there but wave noise and shaft turn is louder. Nice.

We’re watching the weather; it’s lightening up. Bill and I start preparing for a bumpy sail. Carl politely had said the boat yard would let us stay for a better weather window; but after observing us preparing; he boosted our egos by declaring “you guys are professionals, you’ll be alright”.

We back out across the marina; gusting twentys between the buildings. We sheltered behind one, raised the main part way. The wind and QT want to remind us who is boss. We clear the fouled halyard and we’re away.

Wind is right on the nose. I set the rpms for 2500; we’re doing 6 kts pass the harbor patrol. Since we’re the only boat out I’m guessing they’ll be watching and slow down. We’ve never done better than 5+ even in a dead calm.

I decide one reef suffices with 50% furled genoa. We’re out the south entrance where QT gets bounced around a bit. Bill suggests a bit smaller jib; I turn to the wind to make the adjustment, as we have to winch in the furler to make a difference.

We settle into a beam reach with waves coming off the quarter, almost beam. QT is showing a bit of weather helm; traveler down, then down again; its is better, not gone, but not a hardship.

Bill ventures the wind is under 15, I say 15; so I pull out the hand anemometer. 17, 18, 19 kts. Flatten sails, a bit vang and some backstay. Not too much, don’t need more weather helm.

A little while later 24 kts; QT is so well behaved we didn’t really notice a difference.An occasional wave blasts the bow and a quarter of the way up the jib; but nothing gets to the cockpit.

Waves stay in the 6 to 10 foot range; some big white caps; we missed all but 2 or 3.

Climbing waves QT slows to high 5’s; sliding down she hits mid 7’s. We’re comfy and relaxed; grinning like fools.

An hour 40 minutes later we’re entering Redondo harbor. Engine starts instantly. The power is evident. Smooth. Quiet. I’m adjusting to the controls; they’re in the same spot, but my technique of nudging with leg needs to be refined. A touch instantly responds.

Oops we forget to eat the lunch Debra packed.

A very satisfying experience.