Second Test Launch Day!

Wee Dave!

Mine and Hamish's excitement was of such incredible magnitude that it actually threatened to tear the universe apart at its salty epicentre, so its lucky that we were able to get a launch in on the next Friday afternoon. In doing that we believe we've saved humanity, but we may not be completely absolved from blame if 2012 actually happens, we were THAT excited.


I thus had four days between test launches to get everything tickety-boo. I reluctantly conceded that installing the correct number of bolts in the stern leg was neccessary, and sealed the exhaust and the other glaring sinking hazards from the week before. Before I knew it, it was Friday and it was all on. In spite of this, things felt much less rushed than last time, everything felt very ready, and the purchasing of bait and ice was closer to being justified.Things went smoothly in the marina. She came off the trailer fine, and I set to driving around in circles by the boatyard while I waited for Hamish to park. I swung back to pick him up, and we began to learn how boat-driving and car-driving are not tantamount to the same skill. I think a diagram will help here:

1 - Beginning to grasp the beginning of boat driving here. 4 - Hamish has to run to the front to grab a post we're about to hit and push us off again.   2 - Ran aground.   3 - Ran aground.   4 (upper one - haha!) - Notice temp gauge very hot.   5 - Realise flushing tap open so water pump has been pumping mostly air, slowly turn back on and decide to head back to shore believing we've blown the head gasket and cracked the heat exchanger. Whoops!

Haha no but its not all bad! It was probably a good 20 minute trip, as we did about 1kt out the marina (paranoid about another accidental speed record attempt), at 400rpm and as many decibels, and had a grand wee time! Also we did try and get the boat on the plane once we were past the breakwater, and it almost did! There is something of a problem though, in that the motor weighs a lot and is very far back, and thus will undermine our attempts to do maritime things effectively until something changes there. Or somewhere else... (spoilers!)

So anyway that was that. I'll leave you this picture and the weight problem to ponder, until next time!