The king is dead. Long live the king!

After our beloved Evinrude 2 hp outboard passed on, we had room for and admitted a new resident into the Eolian Sunset Hospice for Seasoned Outboards.

He is a Tanaka 3 hp (rebranded as a Sears Gamefisher), which makes him 50% more powerful than the Evinrude.  And about 600% stronger than the Evinrude was when last it breathed.

The outboards we choose to admit into the Hospice must be lightweights - because I leave them on the dinghy while hoisting it up on the davits - in fact the outboard lives on the dinghy full-time.  Our new resident weighs in at a sprightly 22 lb - not bad.

At this end of the weight scale, frills and amenities are not allowed - in particular that means we have never had a dinghy outboard with a transmission.  They have all been direct drive - that means that you must have the dinghy pointed in the direction you want to go when you pull the starter rope, because when the motor starts, you're off to the races!  The Tanaka is slightly different - it has a centrifugal clutch.  That is, until the engine RPM reaches a certain point, the engine is not connected to the prop.  Woo hoo!  We now have the civilized option of starting the motor, and then leaving, as two separate and independent steps.

It is also an air-cooled engine, which means there is no water pump to maintain (yea!).  But it also means it is noisier (boo) - in a water-cooled motor, that water jacket soaks up quite a bit of noise.  Jane says it is like having a chainsaw running on the stern of the dinghy.  There won't be any gas-powered wine cruises...  but I don't think that's going to be a problem.

The Tanaka will be receiving loving care (actually, more like loving neglect) here in the Hospice until it too passes on.  Hopefully, like its forebears,  not for a few years.

The king is dead. Long live the king!

Walrus sighting!

Just off the stern of Eolian - there it is! 

Rare in Puget Sound, sightings of this shy and elusive creature seem to coincide with the spring and fall installations of new prop nut zincs, prop cleaning and speedometer impeller cleanings. Scientists have not yet determined why this creature seems to favor slip G-61.

If you missed this one, be sure to be prepared with your camera next fall...

Walrus sighting!

A suitable waterborne pursuit

It's quiet.

It's soothing.

It doesn't require large tools or supplies that take up a lot of space... the tools are small and the supplies are soft and can fit almost anywhere.

It can be done down below, in the cockpit, or even in the dinghy.

The experienced practitioner can do it while enjoying the view, the sunshine, or the ambiance at anchor.  (But not while drinking wine - Jane has received more than one KUI.)

And really, when you think on it, a knitted sock is exactly a very complicated knot.  There should be no surprise therefore that many old salts in the age of sail knitted.

But the best part about knitting aboard is that the product keeps you warm.  Like the firewood you split yourself, it keeps you warm twice over - because it is made of luscious heavy wool, but more importantly because it is absolutely filled to the brim and overflowing with love.

That green sock that Jane is starting above is the first of a pair to replace a pair that I plumb wore out.  But never fear - I still have another pair of love socks, in a kind of rusty fall color. 

And I have a wonderful, heavy cable-knit fisherman's sweater that is just the thing to wear under foulies on a cold day when the temperature is in the 40's and the wind is howling.

Boy does it keep me warm.

A suitable waterborne pursuit

Music to fall asleep by

Last nite, one of the absolute joys of living aboard was brought home to me. 

After a tough sail across Puget Sound in 30-35 kt winds, we anchored in the protection of Port Madison.  Then the relaxing began - we had a wonderful feta pasta dinner and split a bottle of wine.

And then just before bedtime, a gentle rain began.

Not a gulley washer, not a downpour - just a gentle rain.  And the sound of the drops pattering on the deck above us was music as we fell asleep.

Music to fall asleep by