What is wrong with this picture?

This space is where my motor used to be! I’ve been having problems with the motor (in fact I don’t think it has ever worked right since I bought the boat eight years ago). Using my “Be Your Own Diesel Mechanic Book,” I performed all the checks and tests I knew how to do, then called a professional. The diagnosis was a blown head gasket. Bad, but not too bad. After ordering a few parts and a few hours of labor, I would be back in business…or so I thought. But as with all boat projects, one thing leads to another, which leads to another. Final diagnosis: I have a damaged piston which required taking the motor out of the boat. Ouch! Once the motor is out, you might as well replace everything that needs replacing: gaskets, gauges, rusted metal pieces I’m assuming are important and motor mounts (two of mine were broken…it’s a wonder I didn’t break my prop or rip it out, sinking the boat). “Teapot Tony”, my diesel mechanic, currently has the motor in his shop and I have the pleasant job of cleaning up all the oil and nasty gunk: twenty years work of grit, grime, and various missing screws, nuts, washers and tools irretrievably dropped underneath the motor.