The old engine, a Volvo MD-22, is removed and a new one Volvo D2-55, is installed by Mecanique Plaisance in Le Marin, Martinique. These guys replace engines all the time and it shows. We got a smooth, quiet engine and propellor on time and at the estimated price without drama. All the people we dealt with were excellent. Patrice treated us honestly and is extremely knowledgable. Joel and Jean Paul overcame innumerable difficulties calmly and quietly and were considerate of ourselves and our boat while doing so. This was a difficult installation due to the tight quarters and the roundabout way of taking the engine in and out. Mecanique Plaisance may charge a little bit more per hour (depending on the euro exchange rate) but they are so well equipped, stocked and above all experienced that the new engine will cost you less here than anywhere else in the Caribbean.

• #1 Old engine partially disassembled in place
• #2 Joel starts to remove the watermaker pump
• #3 Partial disassembly of the old engine
• #4 Jean Paul on the engine hoist
• #5 Joel on the engine
• #6 Hand raising the engine
• #7 Wriggle and rotate the engine
• #8 Jean Paul helps from the other side
• #9 Pause for reflection
• #10 On the path out from the lazarette
• #11 Through the salon
• #12 Sliding on polished boards and up the companionway
• #13 Up through the companionway hatch
• #14 Susie looks on
• #15 Joel steadies the old engine
• #16 Jean Paul slides it on boards out the companionway
• #17 Starting to lift it high enough to swing over coaming
• #18 Up and away
• #19 Block slides forward
• #20 Lance watches anxiously
• #21 Rigging a line aft on the boom stops the slide
• #22 Once again - up, up and away
• #23 Swing the engine on the boom outboard
• #24 Lower the engine
• #25 Onto a cart
• #26 And away she goes
• #27 Hole for the saildrive is the same
• #28 Joel starts to clean the engine compartment
• #29 Joel cleans and cleans
• #30 Joel cleaning the engine compartment
• #30 Original engine bed with hole for saildrive
• #31 The engine bed modification for taller D2-55
• #32 Waterlock and air ducting
• #33 Saildrive hole
• #34 Mechanique Plaisance workshop with new engine
• #35 New engine lifted from van
• #36 Jean Paul removes his shoes prior to entering
• #37 Always time for a phone call
• #38 New engine coming down companionway hatch
• #39 Jean Paul waits below for the new engine
• #40 Steadying the engine (its held by a crane)
• #41 Coming down
• #42 And down
• #43 Holding the engine away from the steps
• #44 Ready to land on the boards
• #45 Down she goes
• #46 Landed on the boards
• #47 Around the corner on boards
• #48 Remove a projecting piece
• #49 Into the lazarette
• #50 Now the chain goes into the lazarette
• #51 Lifting the engine into the lazarette
• #52 UP she goes
• #53 Into the engine room from the lazarette
• #54 Slide into place