Shakedown Cruise I

In a previous post, The Fuzz mentioned a new "Tin Boat".

Well, first there was a bit of official paperwork to take care of.  But getting it home out here in the woods was only the start.  Some more equipment had to be scrounged up.  While perhaps a paddle might satisfy any "requirements" The Fuzz would not be satisfied without a real set of oars.  And these had to be ordered.  And of course life jackets - or rather "PFDs"*

Finally the stuff was gathered and it was time for a shakedown cruise.
And it turned out that there was a lot to shakedown!

Lake Rhodhiss was selected for this...

And the ramp at Castle Bridge.

 The Fuzz and Family had been here some years before on a few canoe outings, and it was not too far to drive.

The Boat made it into the water OK and neither car nor trailer was lost in the lake.

But when The Fuzz tried to crank up the motor...

all he did was exercise his arm.

His Sweetie said they could just go back home if he wanted-

In truth, he was just a mite disappointed.

But he did have those oars.

And he did not want to waste a trip and a chance to get out on the lake.

So they rowed a short way up the lake, tied up to a tree branch and did spend some time fishing and painting.

Back home again, The Fuzz was determined to find out what went wrong.  He had seen the motor running fine before he bought the thing!  Was he doing something wrong?

After going over it a few times in his head, he decided to have a look at the darn thing.  When he tore into it, he discovered that the choke had been somehow disconnected.

That was not hard to fix, and now he could crank it fine.

And so another excursion was planned.

 * "Personal Flotation Device"