Navigator: I Have a Legendary Exploration Log

Chapter 68 The Glorious Turbo

The shipyard is located at the northernmost point of Simon Island port.

This place is perpetually filled with a complex mix of smells: engine oil, rust, brand-new metal parts, and seawater.

Old Wright, the craftsman, temporarily acted as a pilot, guiding the Homecoming to an empty dry dock.

"That's about it!"

Old Wright shouted at the top of his lungs, "Stop right here!"

soon.

Chalice and the others then disembarked.

With a series of creaking and groaning sounds, the water in the dry dock was quickly drained, revealing the rusted hull of the Homecoming Ship, which had been below the waterline for a long time.

Although the hull is coated with an anti-corrosion coating before leaving the factory, no coating can remain effective forever in the face of constant corrosion.

Even if they were available, Cheryls wouldn't be able to buy them now.

Chalice leaned on the railing, staring wide-eyed at the steel structure lying quietly at the bottom of the dry dock.

The cargo ship that had been with him for many years now looked somewhat unfamiliar.

Without the support of the seawater.

The ship's hull, which is usually difficult to maintain, is now fully exposed.

The Homecoming is like a steel behemoth that has never been relaxed since its birth, covered in wounds and scars.

Now I can finally enjoy a rare rest and quietly wait for the transformation that will change my destiny.

"When can we start?"

"Chairis asked loudly."

"Right now!"

Old Wright answered just as loudly.

no way.

Ship repair yards are often much busier than shipyards.

The latter only starts production when there are orders, while the former almost never goes without orders.

The roar of the machines was incessant.

Even though you're on an island by the sea, you still need to shout as loudly as if you were in a storm to make others hear you.

Old Wright shouted at Cherries again, "I need to double-check!"

"Add a whaling cannon to the bow! Install a small crane on the deck! Replace the engine room with a magnificent turbine, upgrade the propeller, and strengthen the hull structure accordingly!"

"That's all—right!?"

Seeing Chris nod emphatically, old Wright also raised his arm and gave him a thumbs-up to indicate that he had received it.

He then clapped his hands, and several workers gathered around.

"Come on, guys! This is a big client! Almost a complete upgrade!"

Old Wright briefly explained the order requirements.

"To be honest, I think such a major renovation and upgrade would be better than just getting a new ship, but what can we do when they are our customers?"

"Come on! Let's start with the core turbine! This thing has to be installed first, otherwise we'll have to smash everything if we find a problem later!"

The workers deftly removed the stern, revealing the engine room and the propeller's transmission mechanism.

"First, remove the propeller, then take out the old turbine!"

Old Wright gave the order.

Chalice watched as the workers dismantled the existing pipes, wiring, and machinery bit by bit.

Then the old turbine was completely removed.

This machine hasn't been with the Homecoming Express for very long, and its surface isn't exactly shiny, but at least there's no obvious oil or dirt.

It is evident that several chief engineers have taken good care of it.

Unfortunately, those who most wanted to see the new machine couldn't.

Chalice's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

Sartre stood to the side and said softly, "That outdated turbine model that should have been recycled and dismantled long ago has been put to good use in your hands for another six months."

"He's reached the end of his life, it's time for him to retire—"

Chalice nodded, remaining silent.

This machine was the first step in the extensive modifications made by Cheryl after he officially became the captain of the Homecoming.

He had saved a lot of money as a sailor and first mate, and he intended to pay off part of the money he had invested in the ship on installment.

Sartre, however, refused to accept it.

So that money became seed money, and Cherries used it to do many things, including replacing the turbine with a more powerful one.

Although it was secondhand, it never once left Cheryl and the others at sea.

Seeing his hard work on his first modified boat being dismantled, Cheryl couldn't help but feel a little empty inside.

However, out with the old, in with the new.

As a huge wooden crate was slowly pulled into the dock by several workers on an oxcart, Sartre could clearly hear that Cherris's breathing became heavier.

"This kid—he gets more excited about good machines than women—"

He wanted to laugh, but he was also somewhat relieved.

Perhaps this young man's passion for sailing even surpasses his own.

The workers carefully unpacked the package, revealing the brand-new machine that was already secured inside.

Brilliant turbine.

Chalice had only seen it in the equipment catalog.

Now that the actual object is in front of me, it's even more impressive!

The casing of the Brilliant Turbine is made of polished alloy, and the overall design is clean and neat.

There are no unnecessary or obtrusive pipes or exposed cables. Various interfaces and instruments are neatly arranged on the machine body, with a compact and reasonable design that exudes the rigorous beauty of a work of art.

Chalice was initially a little pained by the expense.

But seeing this sophisticated machine, which can be described as a work of art...

He only had one thought left.

Worth it!

Old Wright and his colleagues were very serious.

Because the transmission of the turbine and the propeller must be 100% synchronized and coordinated.

Any error will cause vibrations at different frequencies, which may even damage the hull over time.

Fortunately, with the old Wright in charge, the replacement of the turbine and propeller went smoothly without any problems.

Next came the reinforcement of the ship's hull structure.

The ship was slowly lifted by the gantry crane above the dock to facilitate workers' work on the bottom of the ship.

With increased power.

The hull, especially the keel, also needs to be supported by stronger and more robust structures.

The rusty outer shell was also removed piece by piece.

Chalice watched helplessly as the Homecoming gradually became something he "couldn't afford to operate."

With a snap, Old Wright took off his gloves, shook them vigorously, walked over to Cherries, and smiled.

"How is it? Not bad, right?"

"It looks really great!"

Chalice spared no praise.

"Your craftsmanship is really good. If you were a ship's craftsman, the captain would definitely be scrambling to hire you!"

"ha!

Old Wright was clearly in a good mood as well.

He joked, "Forget about shipboard craftsmen! I can't stand the life of drifting at sea. But my eldest son is the complete opposite. He can't stand the stability of the island and insists on going out to sea by boat!"

"Good heavens! He really doesn't know how many people dream of such a peaceful life! If it weren't for my well-paying job, he would never have had any illusions about the arduous life of sailing."

"Oh! Sorry!"

Old Wright suddenly remembered something, "I don't have a problem with you captains, I just—"

"I just feel that the children are being overprotected and have unrealistic fantasies about the hardships they haven't experienced."

Chalice smiled and finished the sentence for him.

"That's absolutely right! That's exactly what I meant!"

Old Wright pointed to the Homecoming ship in the dock.

"Look! The water immersion test is about to begin!"

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the workers withdrew from the dock.

A steady stream of water flowed in, and the Homecoming Ferry swayed and floated up before settling steadily on the surface.

"We did it!"

Wirtz's excited shouts came from the side.

Chalice smiled as well.