Never Trust an Engine!

[Ocean Girl]

PS
I named my engine Honeybunny, I figured a little sweet talk never hurts.

[Masquerade]

I have been sailing now for about 16 years. I am only a baby given the experience of many people I know but eh amazing thing I find I have in common with the most experienced and the least experience sailors is that we are all optimists until something goes wrong. The engine in Masquerade is a 1500cc Marinised Kubota but after that first time when it stopped I have a healthy respect for the possibility of something going wrong. I don't know how many sockets, spanners, screw drivers, clamps, clips, spare pipes and wires I have but I feel confident of two things. 1. I have enough tools and spares to fix almost anything. 2. I can almost be equally sure that when something goes wrong in an emergency there is a strong possibility that I will have neither the correct tool or the spare part. Makes you feel like Murphy was an optimist.

One thing I have been grateful for is the assistance given by other boaters and sailors when I have needed a tow. It has also taught me to look out for others on the water and there have now been many times when I have been the one towing some other poor sailor back to the mooring or to the marina. It is embarrassing but everyone has been there in some way or another. Another element of the camaraderie.