F/V Dirt Claw'd Underway - Kinda !

On a drizzling afternoon the research gang took the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Dirt Claw'd and casted off with Josiah at the helm. All the kids spend time at the wheel for fun, experience, and safety reasons. Most folks understand fun and experience, but safety may need a little explanation. On many occasions, because of soccer practices, ballet lessons (not Josiah), school work, etc., I will be out with just one of my children. In the event that something should happen to me, each of my children are versed in the handling of the vessel, navigation, VHF radio transmission,  and distress signaling. A good Captain's responsibility, especially a Captain who's the Daddy, is to his crew and passengers.


I had been telling the kids that if they learned to handle a small single engine boat that they could easily handle a larger vessel. Weight and engine power make a tremendous difference. Twin engines even more so. The boat we have been using is 17ft.  Dirt Claw'd is 28 ft long. As Josiah pulled away from the dock his smiling face lent credence to what had been formally just words. "Claw'd" is an delight to maneuver through the water.


Unfortunately, the engine still isn't running correctly. In my very limited knowledge of outboard engine repair, I believe it is a coil. It will run smoothly until that coil heats up and then it begins to skip. Badly. With six coils mounted on the engine, the trick is to determine which one is the culprit.