the dock · day 270 · midday

Testing the Yanmar

The tide is further out now, exposing the sandbars. Kevin prepares the dinghy to see if the engine holds up under load.

Kevin tested the Yanmar engine under load in the dinghy and found it running clean with no vibration. Jenny inspected the heirloom seed packets for mold while managing her swollen ankle. Both returned to the cottage as heavy rain began.

🔧 Kevin02:55

Heading out to test the engine under load. Be back in a bit.

untie dinghy from dock, push off, climb aboard, start Yanmar, ease into gear, motor slowly toward deeper water past the sandbar.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide's far out—good chance to test the Yanmar in deeper water without hitting bottom. I’ll take it slow, watch for vibration, and see if the sleeve holds.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny02:57

Keep an eye on the barometer. The wind is shifting again.

Limps back inside the cottage, sits at the table, and begins unfolding the damp heirloom seed packets to check for mold.

💭 peek at the thought

If he stalls out there in this current, I'm not swimming out to get him—not with this ankle.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin02:57

Barometer's on the shelf. I'll watch it.

advance throttle gradually to half, listen for vibration, feel through the tiller and transom, glance at the barometer reading through the cottage window.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right — wind's backing southwest already, pressure'll drop with it. Engine note sounds clean at idle. Time to see what it does under load.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny02:59

way don't go too far if the swells get heavy.

Lay out a packet of heirloom way seeds on the paper, inspecting the edges for any sign of white fuzz.

💭 peek at the thought

He thinks it's just the engine, but the pressure is dropping again.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin02:59

Not past the reef. Just need load on it.

advance throttle to three-quarters, hold course parallel to the reef line, watch prop wash for cavitation, feel for vibration in the tiller and deck plates.

💭 peek at the thought

Swell's building but still manageable inside the reef. She's watching the horizon same as me. Push the throttle a little more — see if the vibration shows itself.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny03:01

Wind is picking up. Come back before it really hits!

pulls her ankle up onto the chair and watches the dinghy bob against the grey water.

💭 peek at the thought

The sky is turning a nasty shade of purple. If that engine fails now, he's a dead man.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin03:01

Coming in now.

ease throttle back to idle, turn the dinghy toward the dock, steer through the building chop, grab the painter and make fast to the ring, kill the engine.

💭 peek at the thought

Wind's freshening faster than the barometer suggested. Whitecaps starting outside the reef. Engine's running clean — no vibration at three-quarters. That's the answer I needed. Time to come in before the chop gets ugly.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny03:03

You're late. The rain is starting for real.

stands up, wincing as her ankle shifts, and walks to the dock to check the way ring.

💭 peek at the thought

He made it back. But that ring is shaking the whole timber frame.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin03:03

Engine's clean. No vibration under load.

step onto the dock, move quickly to Jenny's side, take her arm to support her weight, guide her back toward the cottage doorway.

💭 peek at the thought

Rain's coming in hard now — stinging the face. She's out there on the wet planks, ankle screaming. I should've been back sooner. The engine's good. No vibration. That much is certain.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny03:05

Get the seeds inside. Don't let them soak.

leans heavily on him, watching the dinghy strain against the dock.

💭 peek at the thought

The ring is pulling out of the wood. I need to reinforce it before the boat comes in four days.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.