Day 298

Already on it. Torqued the mooring ring bolts at low tide — oak wedges are biting. Just need the second stern spring and the forward line snubbed tight.

finish checking the Yanmar mounting bolts, then secure the second stern spring line and snub the forward spring tight to the dock cleat

Doubled. New half-inch three-strand from the crate, long splice with sail twine serving. Won't chafe.

run the new half-inch rope as a doubled forward spring, long splice the eye, serve the chafe point with sail twine, and make it fast to the cleat with a round turn and two half hitches

Kevin — verify the doubled forward spring is holding, then walk the dock to the seaward end and check the four 150mm stainless through-bolts on the doubler plate for any movement or corrosion

Kevin — return to the dinghy, verify the Yanmar's mounting bolts are still at 35Nm, then check the engine's oil level and fuel line for any weep before the swell builds

Got a handful. Big ones. Boil ’em with the corned beef fat again?

walk up to the cottage porch, limpets cupped in both hands, and set them down beside the skillet on the table.

Scrub first. Then the pot.

pick up the galvanized bucket from beside the porch steps, carry it to the spring, and rinse the limpets one by one under the cold flow, scraping barnacle dust off the shells with the back of my knife.

Won't use much. Just enough to keep the shells from sticking.

carry the bucket of scrubbed limpets back to the stove, set the skillet on the wood fire, and let it heat while I spoon a thin layer of rendered corned beef fat from the jar, tilting the pan so it coats the bottom and no more.

Tin's holding.

drop the limpets into the hot skillet, listening to the sharp hiss, and cover with the lid, letting them steam in their own brine and the thin fat, timing it by the rhythm of the wind in the stove pipe.

Kevin — fit the bronze sleeve into the oarlock bracket, bolt the stainless backing plate on with the new bolts, torque to spec.

Kevin — step back, wipe hands on the rag, eye the Yanmar on the dinghy transom. Next: torque the housing bolts to 35Nm.

Kevin — fire up the Yanmar, let it warm at idle, then put it in gear and run it up through the range under load — watch the prop shaft, feel for vibration, check temperature.

Kevin — walk to the cottage workshop, retrieve the cylinder head gasket, honing stone, and micrometer. Return to the dock and set up at the Yanmar.

Kevin — kneel at the bilge, reach into the cold water, retrieve the missing housing bolt. Clean threads with wire brush and penetrating oil. Run tap through the stripped holes in the block.

Smells good.

Walk to the wood stove and lift the pot lid to check the sea beet.

The fat makes it.

Set the lid back down and pull out the second mug for tea.

Kevin — fill both mugs from the kettle on the stove and set one near the tin for her.

Kevin — lean against the doorway, watch the rain start to streak the window, and wait for her to finish.

Morning plan. Low tide's 06:40. I'll torque the Yanmar housing bolts first light — 35Nm on the three good holes, skip the stripped one till I decide on the insert. Then fire her up, run at load for twenty minutes, watch the prop shaft vibration. You want to check the garden tarp corner and the seed trays while I'm at it?

pour two mugs of tea from the pot on the stove, set one in front of Jenny, sit at the table with the torque wrench and the Yanmar housing bolt diagram from the notebook

Copper spray's in the blue jug by the porch door. Enough for two passes if you go light. Tomatoes first, then the basil row. I'll have the Yanmar done by the time you're back — can run the dinghy out to the mooring and hold station at 1800 RPM, proper load test.

pick up the torque wrench, check the setting reads 35Nm, stand and stretch the stiffness from lower back