Je voudrais new outboard
OK- this "green thing" just isn't working. We actually believed in September that our electric outboard (3hp) would be our primary dinghy motor in the Caribbean. We were fancying ourselves all crunchy and green........the wind generator recharges the outboard........no fossil fuels........mother nature is happy, etc.
The real world was different. Big wind, huge swells, and too much time to recharge the outboard. So we went ahead and bought an economical Honda 2 hp before we left Annapolis. Sips gas...........mother nature still pretty happy, right ?
Problem- in certain wind conditions, the lack of power is downright dangerous. We both fear nothing more than being blown out to sea (as many people have) never to be seen again...........(footnote- see "Mexican fishermen turn up in Australia 280 days later).
So we just bought "Seymour", our 8 hp Yamaha outboard. We have been giddy with smiles as the dinghy now powers around at a respectable speed. No more people snickering at us, or doing the cross thing on their chest for us. It cost a lot, so we are economizing on pastries and restaurants (not easy in St. Barths). Just spending money like... drunk sailors.
The real world was different. Big wind, huge swells, and too much time to recharge the outboard. So we went ahead and bought an economical Honda 2 hp before we left Annapolis. Sips gas...........mother nature still pretty happy, right ?
Problem- in certain wind conditions, the lack of power is downright dangerous. We both fear nothing more than being blown out to sea (as many people have) never to be seen again...........(footnote- see "Mexican fishermen turn up in Australia 280 days later).
So we just bought "Seymour", our 8 hp Yamaha outboard. We have been giddy with smiles as the dinghy now powers around at a respectable speed. No more people snickering at us, or doing the cross thing on their chest for us. It cost a lot, so we are economizing on pastries and restaurants (not easy in St. Barths). Just spending money like... drunk sailors.