As the recreational boating season hurries to a close here in the Northeast, my ideas of a summer spent at least part of the time afloat on Cerberus slip away. Over-optimism is partly at fault, but so were circumstances beyond my control. Jeff Plitt, who some time ago asked if I were a boater or a yachtsman, recently dropped off a bound collection of vintage sailing writing; “Salt in the wound,” I thought.
Back at the end of January, I sent a deposit for a new engine for Cerberus. The original, a Volvo Penta manufactured in 1978 or ‘79, had crapped out the previous summer and I spent many weeks tinkering with it. Rather than try to nurse it along, finding evermore scarce parts, I slowly realized that life is too short to spend worrying if the diesel was going to turn over when it was needed most.
The Connecticut-based salesman for the Volvo Penta’s replacement cheerfully talked me through the options for a new 14-horsepower Beta Marine, a Kubota diesel tweaked for use on the water. I expected it to be shipped in early spring and that I could speed things along by removing the Volvo Penta before the new Kubota arrived. In retrospect, this was probably my mistake. The Beta did not arrive until deep into the sailing months.
Busy with other things, after getting the old engine out, I left it to the boatyard to finish the job. As it turned out, Cerberus’s existing propeller shaft was a few inches short and a new one would have to be ordered. As of early this week, the new shaft had not arrived. Assuming that it does, I may be able to get in a short trip or two before the boat has to be hauled for its second winter on the hard.
I’ve sailed a Sunfish a few times this year, but neither a boater or a yachtsman does that make me. Jeff Plitt’s question will have to be answered next year.