got out into the bay. that nice weather took a turn. winds picked up, swells grew accordingly so we headed back, good thing too, because soon those swells started breaking over and things looked a bit nasty.
i noted the engine sound while in the following swells...she'd go "huuuuummmmmmmmmm" until the swell caught up to us, then "uuuuuuuuuummmmmmpppppppphhhhh" as it passed under, we'd surf down the slope and pick up lots of speed and at times the prop would spin up in bare air during the trough passed. boy was i glad to see the dock come into view - just as we got into the protected cove where things settled down.
never a cough, sputter or complaint of any kind from the 40+ during the ordeal. call me silly, but i gave the SJP a nice pat on her old dented tank for getting me home.
A few times I've been rockin' and rollin' coming home, hoping the 'Gull would stay on the case. Always have so far, knock on wood....
it kept running despite the fact at one point the wind was just blowing the tops of the waves so it was like being sprayed with a hose, I did hear the engine note change very slightly at that point, I think that despite the storm cowl it was drawing a little water in with the air, but it never gave the slightest impression it was going to stop or even slow down. With the sea worthiness of the little inflatable and the "little engine that could" what might have been a very scary actually had us laughing in the end as the water continued to spray all over us - in times like that dependable equipment, that you have confidence in, makes all the difference.
