I planned to use Jinty,
my new Piranha 550 yesterday to travel from Lismore, where I live, to Kerrera, where I keep Swallow, my Harmony 34 yacht. She was due out on charter in what is proving to be my quietest season ever, by a long way, but that's another story, possibly related to the weakness of the Euro against Sterling. It's a 15 minute trip in the RIB, compared with a 90 minute journey by island car/ferry/mainland car/ferry.
After a quick and straightforward launch using my trusty 1957 Massey Ferguson 35 tractor, I went to start up the Evinrude 75 and discover that the throttle/gear control lever had worked itself loose and was close to dropping off. There's no quick fix, as to gain access to the control box securing bolts, the driver's seat pod will have to come out. Back on the trailer and wait for the next direct ferry to Oban, making me 2 hours behind schedule.
When I collected the outfit from Piranha in Hayling Island earlier this month, I did a PB 2 course using it, and all was well. I'm guessing the bolt securing the lever has worked its way loose during the journey north on the trailer.
And so, first job on the list for today is to put things back in working order. Disappointing, but experience has taught me that you never will guess where the next difficulty is going to come from, where boats are concerned.
Thanks for reading
CJ
