Update on work done on board

Dimitris, the mechanic was recently on board Eidos and installed a new, custom made, stainless steel exhaust elbow to replace the old, cast aluminum one that had rusted through. Parts for the 1980 Yanmar are difficult if not impossible to find and this was the case with the exhaust elbow.
A custom one had to be made and the price I was quoted is 500 Euros plus installation. According to the mechanic, it should outlast the boat and me. Perhaps not the engine but he agreed that repairing and replacing parts was a good choice since the engine ran well and was stronger than a new one and I would need to go up to at least a 30 horse-power one to get the same power if I wanted to install a new engine. 

The mechanic will be back to connect a special hose, that had to be ordered from Athens, between the elbow and the muffler. He will also do a few other, minor and hopefully less expansive jobs: check and replace all the filters, add new oil and so on. 
Meanwhile, a maintenance man has sanded down the hull in preparation for anti-fouling before lunching in spring. He also needs to return to polish the propeller and the bronze through-hulls on the outside. They are all covered with barnacles which power-washing upon lifting out of the water didn't remove. 
I have also been busy, sanding and varnishing the teak trim topside whenever the weather allowed. A friendly carpenter made a planter for me as a Christmas gift and I have been preparing it to plant herbs in spring.