the dock · day 158 · dawn

The Engine Load Test

Kevin and Jenny stand under the overhang as the warm rain tapers against the dinghy. Kevin prepares the Yanmar engine for a load test while Jenny monitors the barometer and the rising tide against the dock.

The morning rain continues in warm bursts, keeping the air humid and preventing the varnish from curing. Kevin uses the time to inspect the structural sealing on the vents, while Jenny manages the germinating seed trays under the warmth of the stove.

🔧 Kevin17:03

Barometer's coming up. Tide's falling. Good window for a proper run.

check Yanmar fuel lines and throttle linkage, then fire the engine and let it warm at idle

💭 peek at the thought

Rain's easing. Good. Engine's mounted, fuel's clean, prop's true. Just need to run it hard and see if she holds. Jenny's watching the barometer — she knows what 981 rising means as well as I do.

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

🌿 Jenny17:04

Check the exhaust for smoke. I don't want it stalling out out.

Step to the edge of the dock to inspect the rotten planks under the vibration of the engine.

💭 peek at the thought

If the engine holds, I can take the dinghy to the north ridge tomorrow before the weather turns back again.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin17:04

Watch your step on the end plank. It's held together by habit.

start the Yanmar, let it settle at idle, then watch the exhaust water stream and smoke colour

💭 peek at the thought

She's right to check the planks. If the vibration shakes them loose now, they'll go when we're pushing off in a swell. Exhaust'll tell me more than the gauges anyway.

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

🌿 Jenny17:05

It's running clean for now, but keep an eye on that float needle.

Record the current barometer reading and the engine's performance in the notebook.

💭 peek at the thought

The engine sounds steady, but I need to know if it can handle the load of the current.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin17:06

Needle's filed clean. Seat's seating. If it floods, it'll be the vibration, not the cut.

advance throttle to half, hold it there, watch exhaust and listen for miss or hunt

💭 peek at the thought

Float needle held at idle yesterday. Load's the test. She's logging it — good. Means she's thinking past today.

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

🌿 Jenny17:07

If it stays smooth like this, we can make the trip to the north ridge tomorrow.

Step into the dinghy to test the weight distribution and ensure the engine isn't bogging.

💭 peek at the thought

The RPMs hold, but I need to see how it reacts to a sudden throttle.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin17:08

Transom's not squatting. Mount's holding. You want to run the transect at slack?

keep throttle at half, check gear engagement forward and astern, watch prop wash for cavitation

💭 peek at the thought

North ridge in a dinghy. She's serious about the transect. Engine's singing clean — no hunt, no smoke. She steps in and the transom settles even. Good. Means the mount's true.

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

🌿 Jenny17:09

If the tide stays out, I'll head to the north ridge before the rain returns.

Wipe the salt from the engine casing and check the bolts for any movement.

💭 peek at the thought

The engine feels solid, but I'm wary of the vibration on the dock planks.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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