31 December 2015
We started thinking about moving further south to Vero Beach, Florida at the end of January. We hear that Vero Beach is very welcoming and is quite a popular place for cruisers.
There are two options for staying at Vero Beach city marina, tying up in a slip or the much more economical option of tying up to a morning ball. If we decide to live on a mooring ball for a while we knew we would have to be sure the dinghy and outboard were ready as this would be our means of transport for going ashore for provisions, laundry, water, etc.
Bob took on the challenge and we lowered the dinghy to the water, and attached the very old 2 stroke outboard. Bob didn’t have a lot of hope of the engine actually starting and we were amazed when it started up easily on the second pull. Woo hoo!!!!
But the celebration was short lived as the engine cut out, and after several attempts, a sore arm from pulling, and taking the cowling off to check out the engine’s components the engine would not start again.
Those that have chartered with us in the past know that dinghy engines and Bob have an intense love/hate relationship. Recognizing that there is probably a simple fix (water in the fuel line?) we have decided that for the sake of peace of mind and Bob’s sanity a brand new, cleaner burning, more reliable outboard (with a warranty) is in our future.
Outboard 1 – Bob 0….for now.
{Update: 12 January, 2016 – new 6HP 4 stroke Yamaha outboard has been ordered. Here’s hoping happy dinghy-ing is in our future.}
You will love “Velcro” Beach; it’s truly hard to tear yourself away!!! Be sure to check out the tuna nachos and Key West Ale at the Riverside Cafe (short walk). Can’t speak for the slips, but the mooring balls are wonderful. Free shuttle bus system to town and beach (we found no Sunday bus, however) is great. Lousy internet is the only detraction and I understand it’s marina-wide. Tons of restaurants and shopping, free transportation, lots of beach, lots of fellow cruisers, a friendly town, what’s not to like????
We are looking forward to it!
That so sounds like Bob and his relationship with dingy engines! Hope all is warm and well.
Some things just don’t change – and you are one of the folks that really understand that very special relationship! All is well and USUALLY warm here in Cocoa.
Not sure if they’re in season, but if they are, you have to try some local Rock Shrimp! We were out there for Dodgers spring training a few years back and I still remember that meal!
Sounds delicious. I will have to check them out before we head north again.