Outboard back in action
14 November 2022
• Marina Real
by Keith Singer • Perfect fall weather, cool and comfy
After almost a year and a half stored and unused we finally got the dinghy and engine going in the last few weeks. OZ has served extremely well as a refuge from the storms of life over the last few years, but a lot of her hasn't been issued in the meantime. Still haven't found the rigging to put it on the davits either, but at least the outboard engine has now been serviced at the shop in town and it's working good as new again. Tried to fix it myself last trip but only broke it worse, as usual. Amazing how mechanically inept I am to have chosen sailing as a hobby. I finally determined the engine would have to be replaced, but the price of new ones are close to 2k and when I opened it up it looks new inside as it’s only run for like 10 hours, if that. Fortunately there are people who can fix things properly without breaking them all over the world and especially in Mexico. I forgot how fast that 6 hp engine makes the fiberglass bottom dingy go. Too fast for safety with just me on board. The carburetor gummed up while sitting outside for so long unused and it was bogging out out on anything but idle. Now it goes through its power cycle smoothly and cleanly again. I took a ride to the open bay and back just before I departed yesterday morning and had a good 'ol time. The sailboat is such a complicated machine with all its different parts and purposes. It is rare when every little bit of it works perfectly at the same time. I keep it very clean and well maintained, but it is still always a work in progress. That is hard for a perfectionist like me. But the adventures and the unique beauty, the unparalleled relaxation and the people I'm meeting are unmatched in any other part of my life. I have no regrets whatsoever, only gratitude. May you also be blessed uniquely in your lives, my dear blog groupies.
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