However, sliver linings, we get to see my parents :-) and we have been to see a new engine!
We have thought long and hard about how and what to replace our engine with. Like for like seemed the quickest and easiest route but neither of us felt comfortable with this solution, it was unlikely we would find one with a good history and even running she sounded fine when broken. Whose to say the next one wouldn't be broken :-( and parts we were under the impression parts were easy to get hold of. The Perkins specialist in Brixham gave us the bad news, they were either new 'old' parts sat in the back of warehouses or off of engines like ours!
We cast the net wider and came across a Volvo penta, well known, well loved, loads of parts, hand start capabilities, just our luck it had been sold!
Mike started to explain our predicament and the guy said I bet you got about another 10 hours our of her, He was almost spot on!
Shaun's company refurbish, restore or break engines depending on their quality. They had a Ford XLD 1600 newly marinised from Lansing Marine which had been part exchanged as it didn't fit in the owners boat! Quite an expensive error (not that we are complaining) it has a new block, mounts, guages and wiring loom. The only hours on it are from the test bench. As you can imagine we chewed his arm off as it is the fraction of the price of a brand new engine!
Just the for the delivery and fitting now ;-)