Reply To: Compression Testing

[Buccaneer]

I’ve told this story before, but I’ll amuse myself once more…..
With all this “talk” of outboards “self emmolating”, I’m starting having “flashbacks”
when I was a young teenager, circa 1969, starting up
the 3 hp Buccaneer at the dock. Priming said motor ends up with some gas
running down the inside of the cowling. Perhaps Gale didn’t think ahead that
in a mere 15 years, their spark plug wire might be worn, or have leakage.
Thank the Lord for leaky wooden boats and a handy bailing bucket………
that was the first time it happened. I know you’re thinking there shouldn’t be
a second time, but at 13 years or so old, outboard maintenance wasn’t a priority…
if it started, you were good to go!
The bailing bucket didn’t do the trick the second time, and after bailing water
out of the lake wasn’t “doing it”, a panic set in. I probably should have run at
this point, but bravery / stupidity set in, and I un-clamped the motor from the transom
and threw it in the lake. After fire danced on the water for about 15 seconds and
went out, I realized I was going to live, and I started feeling better, until I looked up
at the house and seen my brother looking out the picture window laughing his
hinney off.
I can’t remember if the spark plug wire ever did get replaced on the Buccaneer.
It’s up in the rafters, awaiting new adventures.

Prepare to be boarded!