Gentlemen, Start Your Dinghies

August 30, 2006

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - Steve and Sally Dock, Oriental, NC
By Tom

We picked up our new dinghy engine and life is good. We opted for the Mercury 15 horse power, 4 stroke, 2 cylinder, carbureted version. We got ours from the anti-Christ (West Marine) for two reasons. First, the store in New Bern had a never been used floor display model that was marked down to $2200. Second, they have this program where if you are a new boat owner, you can get 10% off of anything in the store.

While technically we aren't new boat owners, we are new dinghy owners. I know, I know, it sounds like a stretch, but the West Marine dude seemed to buy it, so here we are.

Since we were getting 10% off, we bought bottom paint for our impending haul out as well as the last few bits and pieces we need before taking off. The engine ended up costing just over $2000 with tax. It also included a 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. I'm not sure how good that will be in the islands, but it made me feel better about myself, so just let it slide.

I played Bozo the Test Pilot and took our new engine/dinghy combo out for it's maiden voyage. The engine runs great and easily pushes our dinghy along at warp factor 6. The true test came when we both went out. I cracked the throttle and we took off! We were up on plane in less than 3 seconds. Nice!

We are going to need to make some modifications to the stern arrangement of the big boat as this engine is larger and much heavier than our Honda was. I have taken the solar panels off so I can re-weld some of the stern arch pieces to make room. I also need to remake a new engine hoist as the one we currently have is now 3 inches too short.

In other news, I have almost finished installing our radar. I've only had it for six years, so it's safe to say I haven't rushed into it. I mounted the LCD at the helm and the radome on the mast about 8 feet up. I also wired the radar into our gps so that it can get latitude and longitude information and over lay that with the radar returns.

I don't expect to use the radar except for the twice a year I enter a harbour in the dark and if we didn't already have it in storage, I wouldn't have bought one. As it is, I think we can barely afford the power to run the thing, but after I bounced us off that sea buoy last trip into Beaufort, SC, Amy insisted I put it on. Go figure.

In completely non boat related news, I recently took my motorcycle and rode out to Tennessee for a couple of days to meet up with my parents and their new R.V. Amy stayed with the boat and ferret sat. Don't feel too bad for her, I get to return the favor in a few days when she goes to New York to see her friend Kris.

I met my parents in Bristol. They go out there every year to see the Nascar race cars. I couldn't stay for the big race, but I got to see some of the lesser series run. If you ever get a chance, Bristol Speedway is by far the best track to watch cars run around in circles at. There isn't a bad seat in the house.

The trip out there was around 500 miles each way and on the leg out it rained most of the second half. Some of the roads are way scarey on a motorcycle. Especially the run from Boone, NC up to Bristol, TN. It's only 24 miles or so, but it took over 60 minutes. There must be 9000 turns in that little stretch of road.

I stayed in my parents new motorhome and it's mega nice. I figure their camping is almost like our cruising except they travel at 55 mph. A friend who used to cruise told me once, you start with a sailboat, move to a motor boat, then a motor home, then the rest home. If we get to move to a motor home like Mom and Dad's I'm not too worried.

Well, that about brings you up to speed. The only really outstanding job to finish is the bottom painting and start work on our new spinnaker. Other than that we are just about ready to head back south. Plans still show us leaving October 1 or so depending on the weather. Stay tuned, more to follow.