Let the Gato Loco RePower begin..
Gato Loco friends have been wondering about the 2015 sailing season. Normally plans would have been finalized by this time. In some of the final updates last season we reported lots of engine problems. We’ve got them all stabilized and they are running great BUT we’ve decided to install new engines to set our minds at ease while venturing out on the Sea of Cortez where there is little support for engine problems. The new engines have arrived but we’re still waiting for some of the accessories needed for the install. More details on the engine install follows below…
Not having our plans together, our annual trip to Loreto Fest and the Seawind Rally that usually follows is off this year. It will be our first year to not do a cruise south to Loreto since bring Gato Loco to Penasco in 2003. Having new engines should allow us to venture further south in the future.. In the mean time, Former crew member Victor Rangel has plans to fish the Bay of LA (Isla Ángel de la Guarda) area May 23 – 27th which gives us a target to organize some sailing in the northern Sea joining Victor and his fellow fishing boats. In the coming weeks and based on how the repower goes we’ll put together some May sailing plans. Stay tuned.
On to the repower…
After some research we decided on Yamaha 9.9hp (as before) model T9.9EHB with tillers. The tiller model simplifies delivery to a local Yamaha dealer for delivery inspection and service as Yamaha requires the dealer to install all remote controlled motors on the boat. Since we can’t bring Gato Loco to Phoenix the tiller option is our only choice. Yamaha sells a remote conversion kit (6DR-48501-00-00 ) and a remote electrical harness (69G-82590-00-00 ) that should make the motors a simple swap out. Also the remote controlled motor version only came the power tilt feather which didn’t want.
Our next step is getting motors and accessories to the boat in Penasco. Wish us luck…
Some local Penasco news.. Bill has Gato Loco busy as usual this time of year taking friends out to see our visiting whales.. Here’s a couple of photo highlights by photographers in the past month.
The photo above was taken from friends boat Wonderlust by Cassandra Tomei. Very cool photo..
The photo below shows Penasco at sunset highlighting our harbor where Gato Loco calls home.
Conception Photo below illustrates the Cruise Port under construction on Sandy Beach between Penasco and Cholla Bay which is on the peninsula beyond the port. Progress continues on this huge undertaking. Some day we might be able to have Gato Loco in this marina area. That might be a little optimistic.!!
As we make progress on the engine repower and plans for May sailing we will get out another update.
Until the next Update….
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