Repowering Katrina, and My Dad

Perhaps the best moment of any cruise on Katrina is when the engine is shut down, leaving behind the welcome ahhhh-quiet of wind-powered progress. Purists might consider motors on sailboats a contradiction. But without auxiliary power, there’s no way this 38-footer would’ve brought us to so many wonderful harbors over her 55 years. 

And since her cruises often start in Woods Hole Passage, a reliable source of direct upwind progress is also an important safety item. Which is why, once Katrina began her long winter’s nap last year, my father decided to replace her almost 40-year-old engine. “I’m going to need a project this winter,” he said in November, shortly after ordering the new motor. Because, just as he’s done for all of Katrina’s upgrades, he planned to do the work himself.

Sailboat auxiliaries have shrunk in size since the 1980s, so as soon as the old engine was pulled out Dad measured the mounts; yup, they’d have to be reconfigured. We all poured our unique skills into the challenge: while Paul helped Dad think through each next step, I jumped in with (occasionally useful) “facts” about the two previous engine installations (1970 and 1988). Some of those memories were even confirmed by Katrina herself as the archeological dig progressed.

The project dominated our conversations over Christmas, because the original engine beds were not quite level. It would’ve been easy to say “well, they’ve worked fine since 1970.” Instead Dad took the time and energy to build up the starboard side until it was the same height as the port one. He even made his self-imposed deadline; when my sister flew into town for his 90^th birthday party, we celebrated with an all-sibling gathering to drop the new engine into place.

But that was just one (big) task on a still-lengthy list. The boat’s electrical panel had to be replaced to accomodate the new gauges. And most of the customized accoutrements—muffler, refrigerator compressor, helm controls—had to be either updated or further customized before they could be hooked up. Paul and I tried to help with the jobs that required more than one pair of hands, and Dad sometimes called on other assistants between our visits. But, per-Katrina-usual, all but a couple of the many, many winter hours were put in by Dad solo. 

The most obvious reward is a reliable diesel that should power Katrina for several more decades at least. But all that “occupational therapy” of climbing up and down, problem-solving, and maneuvering in (and out) of tight spaces has also left my 90-year-old father both stronger and happier. Here’s to the restorative power of personal passion!

This summer, I’m sure that the new Beta will sound different than the old Perkins 4-108. But I’m equally sure that when the new engine is shut down, we’ll once again enjoy the familiar welcome of ahhhh-quiet—which will, purist contradictions aside, be well worth a winter’s worth of effort. So congratulations to Dad, and thank you Katrina for continuing to bring us all so much joy.

Got a boat project that’s taken more time than expected? Share your experience in the comments below, or send me an email. I read every single one, with gratitude. Meanwhile thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you next week for a book review!