20 Jan 24:
From Bilge Rat:
"Pat was in a small clinker dinghy in the middle of the River Yealm attempting to start the Seagull outboard motor mounted on the transom, it was the old model that ran on 3/4 pint of oil to gallon of petrol, (the reason they last forever) the spark plug had oiled up, so there was no chance of it starting unless the spark plug was removed, cleaned and replaced. Pat Hall didn't have much patience with mechanical devices, especially motors that don't start right away. He became frustrated very quickly, ripped the motor from the transom, threw it into the bilge of the dinghy and gave it a severe kick for good measure. Unfortunately, he was wearing Wellington boots, which offered little protection, resulting in him a breaking his toe. The resulting pain angered him further, so he grabbed the outboard motor and heaved it over the side into 80 feet of salt water, this was the moment he realised there were no oars in the dinghy, meaning he faced a cold swim, or have to hail the ferryman, both options embarrassing for him. Additional to that, the outboard motor now residing in Davy Jones Locker, belonged to someone else."
...to be continued...
...continued...
The Seagull was recovered by a diver a few days later, cleaned, service, tuned and put back into service. Pat got a ribbing or two from the Ferry Captain at the local pub, friendly and measured though, as Pat was a mountain of a man.
Signed,
Doug "Bilge Rat"
Editor's Note: Take the same story, swap out Pat with Cap'. Replace kick with salty pirate language. And instead of Davy Jones locker, trade motor to friend for a Christmas tree.
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