Maybe the Season's Last?

I ventured out again Wednesday morning headed for Deltaville. After contacting my friend John about the need for a bit of 'cheap' labor at the museum and finding that there was "grunt work" around, I saddled Annie and we headed north. Beautiful fall day. As the entrance to Jackson Creek drew close I fired up the outboard and within a couple minutes she conked. Clear prop... gas to the carburetor... no problems. Going through the mental list I opted to change the plug having a fresh one in the tool box. First pull and on the way. The old plug looked just fine. Got me. As Roland Anderson said later that afternoon... "the old guys just say: It's a bad plug. I guess that's enough said.

The new boat shop extension was looking mighty sporty with interior walls and electric. John was fitting pieces on another deadrise and I started by sprucing up the benches and fastening a couple large bench clamps (wood vises).

John and deadrise

Old shop on the right, new on the left

Floor tools in the old shop section

Cranking lags

Put in the better part of Wednesday and Thursday in the shop. Slept on the dock in Mill Creek. It reminded me of when I would commute to work at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland in the early '90s. That was another Mill Creek and another boat... my Drascombe Lugger Maggie Mae. I would get up early and sail or motor several miles and tie up next to the bugeye Wm. B. Tennyson. 

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Back to the engine. Annie's 6hp Nissan Marine is a fine friend. I've had all makes from British Seagull to Honda and this one gets high praise. Like small Mercs and I believe small Evinrudes, Nissan is basically a Tohatsu by another name. Some may not have that at the top of the list but it has been for 12 years a faithful friend. I maintain and winterize and she still fires up on the 1st or 2nd pull and runs smooth when needed. That works for me.