SDA67 Stranded in Norfolk ... Remove and Replace Volvo MD2030 Transmission Cable

We cruise up the ICW from Chesapeake toward the Chesapeake Bay, but we get stuck in Norfolk/Portsmouth when the starboard transmission shifter cable breaks. The hour we spent waiting for a railway bridge to open didn't help. Hovering requires a lot of shifting.
Can we fix the transmission shifter cable on our port Volvo MD2030 saildrive, or are we going to have to find a replacement? Where will we find one? How do we figure out what cable we need? How will we get it to the boat?
A relatively small job can cost a week or more when you're not in your home port, and we don't have a home port.
At least the ducks were well fed and happy
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🌊 Sailing Dark Angel follows our real-life journey sailing the Caribbean aboard our Island Spirit catamaran, sharing the challenges, adventures, and everyday moments of liveaboard sailing life.


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Kraken Spiced Rum
Ginger Beer
Muddled Mint
Slice of Lime

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Lisa & Dave
Sailing Dark Angel

© Sailing Dark Angel 2026