We loaded up this morning and headed to the ramp with the new (old) boat. I started the '91 Merc in the driveway before we left to ensure a quick start once we were in the water. Getting out of the truck at the ramp with the boat in the water, I stepped down on a mangled redfish (killed by the red tide) and almost went down - possibly a sign of things to come. Got the truck parked and jumped on the boat - hit the key and the old black bomb fired right up - smoke and all! I pushed off the dock, threw it in reverse and the thing died. We blew across to the adjacent dock - luckily there was not another boat in that spot - tied back up and tried for a good 20 minutes to get the thing running again - no luck.
Ironically, as I was unloading the boat in the driveway, Tommy from Hammerhead Boatworks returned my call from the day before.
