First Road Trip

Big Duck is far enough alond I wanted to get insurance. I got a quote from BoatUS that was reasonable, but they needed a survey. So I set one up with one of their listed agencies. Gotta say, I really like this guy, Bob Turner. He was actually on a family outing and took time to give Big Duck the once over. I guess we were both surprised at his positive findings for such an old girl.

So here we are, on the road to the marina near his relatives place at the lake. Big Duck is such a lady behind the van...a little slow on the hills, but we just put her on 2,700 RPM and let her settle at whatever speed she likes.

Outside of lack of maintanence, what's the worst thing you can do to your car motor? That's right, run it wide open. But there is something else that worse - run it wide open pulling a trailer. Man, is that tough on a motor. But the supreme insult to mechanical longevity for your vehicle is running wide open, UPHILL, pulling a trailer. But there are folks who think it's imperative to do the speed limit of 70 going up mountain passes while pulling their trailers.

'Gotta have a diesel - that will take care of the hills. Hey, if you want to have a diesel, get one, but a diesel won't get you over the hill any faster unless it's more horsepower. And more horsepower always comes at a price both in purchase and economy.

My wife was in Mexico for a memorial service, so it was just me and Merlin (and he was wearing a splint from a recent bout with a curb).

I need to be comfortable splashing alone, especially for the first time, but I knew the ramp at the marina. It was a good one but often very busy. What I would do was, after the survey, we would wait until 11 or midnight, then back her in and get her running. If all went well we might undo the lines and let her float off and tie her up to the dock for a spell - just getting used to the water. And then, with the trailer still in the water, we'd venture out a little way...then maybe come back and move the rig to a parking spot and spend the night aboard at anchor.

We noticed a sign as we approached the marina, but didn't think much of it. Bob and I had a good time getting to know each other and the boat, and soon he was on his way. Merlin and I went for a walk to scope out the ramp. Now I knew what those signs meant, "Ramp Out of Service."