Gearbox Specialist in the Eastern Caribbean?

[sobriyah]

Apologies for duplicating this post. I originally posted it under the engineering section, but am hoping for a better response here.

Can anyone please recommend a gearbox specialist in the East Caribbean: St Martin down to Grenada?

The feedback I have received locally is that its too specialist for the local guys and I should send it to the US to be rebuilt.

Someone suggested I could try Simpson Bay Diesel in St Maarten, does anyone know if they are the only engineers likely to have the skills and tools?

Its a Hurth HBW 250, and reading Alan Wheelers excellent study hall, it sounds like the thrust washers are on the way out (reluctant to engage forward gear, but no problem in reverse)

And can anyone please advise whether this is likely to be ok for a while, or can I expect imminent failure?

Many thanks in anticipation, gearboxes are beyond me. Richard