- Date: March 28, 1987
- Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- Subject: Dinghy-How to use the outboard
Dear Water Fairy:
Getting onboard Sacha-B, when she is anchored or tied onto the pile moorings, is not an easy feat. Right now we are in Cairns, and we are tied up on the pile moorings-which are big, huge telephone poles stuck deep into the mud, across the creek/harbor from the city. Cairns Harbor’s proper name is Chinaman’s Creek. I am not sure why, because I have never seen a Chinese person anywhere near the place. Everybody just calls it the harbor. Anyway, Sacha-B is tied up between two poles. There is a bowline tying her bow (front) to the front pile and a stern line, tying the stern (back) to the back pile. Being on the pile moorings makes for a very safe, flat anchorage. In order to get to shore, we must get into the dinghy and motor across the harbor. I love being on the pile moorings because we get to use the dinghy pretty much every day, and that means fun for me.
This is our routine to get into and out of the dinghy. Capt will first pull the dinghy’s painter (rope tied to the front of the dinghy), which he ties off the starboard side of Sacha-B , so the dinghy comes along the starboard side of Sacha-B . Then he hops from the deck of Sacha-B over the life lines and down into the dinghy. This is easier said than done, because it’s about a 3 foot drop from Sacha-B ‘s deck to the dingy. Capt says the best exercise anyone could ever need is dinghy hopping. “Keeps all the souls young and nimble.” He also says its good strength training, as well as good hand/eye coordination for all souls under 20 years of age….meaning me.
On the back of the dinghy is our 2.2 horsepower outboard motor. When we are finished using the dinghy, it is important to lift the propeller of the outboard motor out of the water so algae doesn’t grow on the propeller. So when we are getting ready to go somewhere we have to lower the outboard motor and gets the motor running in idle. Then, Capt will stand in the middle of the dinghy, holding on to the gunwale (which is upper edge of Sacha-B and trimmed in wood), making the dinghy steady. Mom then climbs over the lifeline and lowers herself over the side of Sacha-B and into the dinghy, like she is stepping down one step-no big deal. I try to do the same thing, but my short legs make it difficult. Luckily, Capt is always encouraging and very happy when we are all in the Big Red (dinghy).
Safety is always important on the water. Capt’s motto is safety first, and that holds true for being in an 8 foot red, double skin dinghy. Soooooo we need to be sure we have all the safety equipment in Big Red. We have an anchor attached to about 10 feet of chain, which is tied to a polypropylene rope, called the anchor line. We have two bright orange laundry bottles cut into the shape of fancy bailers, so we can scoop out any water in the bottom of the dingy; 2 oars; tethered into the oar locks; a spare oar, lashed to the bottom of the dinghy-case we lose on of the oars); a gallon jug of gasoline and funnel so we won’t run out of fuel; a rag to keep things clean, and most importantly a flashlight for night travels-so other vessels can see us at night. Just under the gunwale on the topside (outside) of Big Red is some reflective tape, which will light up if light is shined on it. There are also 3 life jackets. I wear mine all the time, but Capt and Mom opt not to wear theirs.
I am learning how to use the outboard properly. First lesson is how to turn it on.
- loosen the nut that holds the propeller leg up
- put the propeller leg down into the water
- check to see if fuel needs to be filled
- open the air vent cap on top of the gas cap
- put the motor in neutral, so the lever is down
- pull the cord, like a lawn mower
- motor SHOULD start
- move the lever up to go faster, or down to go slower-that is like the gas pedal
- push the OFF button in to shut off outboard
Today, I was at the helm of Big Red and got to practice steering. It is different steering a boat that has a tiller compared to a boat with a wheel. When you are steering a boat with a wheel, like Sacha-B , you turn the wheel in the direction you want the boat to go. If you want to go to starboard, you turn the wheel to starboard. When you are steering a boat with a tiller, you have to push tiller in the opposite direction that you want to go. If you want to go to the starboard, you push the tiller to port. It takes some practice and concentration to use the tiller, but it is fun. Another thing I practiced today was how to handle the dinghy when a big powerboat comes by and creates a wake, or large wave. You have to point the dinghy directly into the wake, so the wake does not slosh into the dinghy and swamp it. That would be a big disaster and dangerous. I got to practice is trick twice today, because two of the large sightseeing boats were leaving the docks as we were coming in. It was fun and felt like we were jumping over the waves. If you don’t hang on, you could end up in the drink(water).
Once we got to shore, we all went to Rusty’s Market, which is a big outdoor market with tons of fresh vegetables, fruit, baked goods and some crafts. We got our usually stash of carrots, tomatoes, avocados, beans, potatoes, onions, squash, pawpaw, mangoes, and bananas.
Mom and I went to the library for the rest of the day, and Capt took all the stores back to Sacha-B and worked on some boat stuff. I was working on some preliminary research using encyclopedias. I found about 25 plants and animals that I will write about on our trip, and made photocopies of the information. I can use this information along with the reference books we have onboard when doing my schoolwork. We are not sure if we will come across any libraries on our trip. Capt thinks the closest port that will have a library will be Rabaul, in Papua New Guinea, and we probably will not get there until August.
We met up with Capt at the Yacht Club for “Happy Hour” so I was able to have a bag of yummy salt and vinegar crisps (potato chips). Toni and Craig from “Mollemok” were there and Ivy and Brian from “Takani”. Just as we were leaving Tracy and Brian from “Sunshine and Whiskey” were arriving, so we hung around for a bit longer, and had a few more snacks.
By the time we got home, no one was really starving, so I made us some avocado toast. I took the big huge, smooth skin avocado and scooped out all the flesh and put it in a bowl. I added some finely minced onion and garlic, and smashed it up good and added diced tomatoes. I toasted both sides of the bread to make it nice and crunchy, then I spread the avocado on the toast and sprinkled it with shredded swiss cheese and stuck it under the broiler until the cheese was bubbly and brown….and very hot!
I think I will read some more of Melinda’s book, which I just call “The Mixed-up Files”. It is a good book and I hate to see a good book end, but I have to finish it soon so I can return it. One reason I really like this book is because she went on an adventure, and I am going on an adventure. I am not going with my little brother, but I am going!
