Ol' MLK day was cause for celebration and it was time to prime the pumps and take the SPARROW (African Queen VOLVO) for a spin. Mostly due to the cold weather, I've been unable to get her 7 hp VOLVO diesel to turn over. But there were other issues as well, she has an automatic bilge pump cycling on and off every few minutes and that puts a drain on battery 1 (especially when there's nothing to pump). So we installed a battery 2 to help conserve power for an engine start. We've had several things installed since the SPARROW became mine....first of all, she did not have her glassed-in fuel tank hooked up (she was on a red polyethylene tank), upon investigation, the tank had to be cleaned out and we decided to install a RACOR fuel/water separator. Then I knew I would need an inverter for those times when you just need to plug something in. So with the cold weather, battery debacles and fuel feeds...I had yet to have success with turning her over.
That day had arrived, we put my handy dandy black n decker battery charger on for at least a half hour and then the marina mechanic came down and talked me through this 'monster's' routine. Thinking I just wasn't holding my mouth right, he went through the specific sequence with this engine and low and behold on the third try she stuttered into motion.
AHA....the secret was the ol' decompression valve I was not holding long enough. Once I understood that, it all made sense...even though I was not convinced that her coughing was actually a good sign that she was revving up! wOw...so much to learn with every different boat. The mechanic threw off my lines and off we went with a grin from ear to ear!

What a beautiful blue-sky day in mid January, in the 60's. Kelly Belle on the bow playing hood ornament and the open harbor opening up a whole new attitude toward this project. That little VOLVO ran like a top and I wondered if that young mechanic knew who I was talking about when I nicknamed her the African Queen, for that's exactly how she sounds. We tested out her turning curve and 'under power' hull speed forging up river and then out the mouth of the harbor for just a taste of the open water~

She swam like a dream in flat water and seemed to know the way back to her mooring where she coasted in without ordeal. The mechanic was proud to see her out and about and recognized we had some 'getting used to each other' time to spend. For our first solo together, she was stout and responsive!

~next time we launch her wing in the wind