David had wanted to got to a raymarine shop and get some replacement displays so we agreed to hire a car and do the round of boating shops. Ashore for 8.30 to pick up a brand new car only 3 days old and first hire.
With the aid of sat nav we found the shop and David left the display for replacement. Rolly Taskers -the biggest sail making floor in the world - a shop that has everything for rigging. I managed to only spend £4 on a series of very small items. Up to boat Lagoon and the big chandlers and must be a first as I did not buy anything - a few more shops then I called at the Mercury dealer and found they had fixed my 15hp outboard and they did a test run and it started so easily and ran so well better than it has ever done. I persuaded the lads working there to carry it to the car and hoping there was going to be no dripping fuel or oil in the brand new car. I left the car next to a beach ramp and went to get the dinghy and bring it to the shore - by now the black clouds had appeared it was blustery and torrential rain. I could not lift the outboard out of the boot it was so heavy but since I was blocking a very busy ramp I got some assistance. David came over to my boat to help me hoist it out of the dinghy onto an outboard bracket which I would really have struggled with on my own. I waited an hour or so to see if the weather would moderate and would have stayed on board but I had to return the hire car I had left at the beach. I called in at the cruising club for Taco Tuesday but since it was heavy rain the inside was mobbed and struggling to find standing space so one quick beer then back to the boat.