CURRENT LOCATION: Anchored in Ensenada Honda, near town on Culebra
18 18.326' N, 065 17.979' W

I always thought that evinRUDE was the appropriate name for our outboard. As I have mentioned before, it came as a package deal with our used inflatable dinghy and, as such, was a great deal. Otherwise, I never would have purchased this thing. It is loud, smelly, and generates much more pollution than I care to admit (as is common among two-stroke engines). In short, it is a rude means of transportation.

Not ones to look a great deal gift horse in the mouth, we decided that we would use this engine until it died. And, we knew exactly how this death was likely to occur. Having had some work done on the lower unit before leaving North Carolina, we knew that the drive shaft looked sketchy. We opted not to spend the money on replacing the drive shaft and figured that it would be the eventual straw to break this old camel's back. Well, our 18-year old outboard finally made the expected sound on Saturday night. With Sheryl and I both aboard and heading in to play cards, the engine went into a high winding pitch and the prop ceased its rotational motion.

The disabled Evinrude now sits upon our stern rail, and we are beginning to search for a replacement. In the meantime, our transport to and from the boat is now 100% environmentally friendly. In addition to the option to take a kayak, we can climb aboard the Porta-bote and row, row, row our boat slowly across the harbor.