the dock · day 159 · dawn

Low Tide Engine Check

Kevin tests the Yanmar engine on the dinghy while the tide recedes from the pilings. Jenny sits on the planks, her notebook open as she monitors the rising barometer.

Kevin uses the falling tide to test the Yanmar engine under load, ensuring the recent repairs hold up against water stress. Jenny focuses on the heirloom seedlings, checking the germination progress of the tomatoes and peppers in the kitchen.

🔧 Kevin18:03

Starting her up. Watch the tell-tale.

pull the starter cord on the Yanmarmounted on the dinghy, listening for the catch

💭 peek at the thought

Engine's been sitting since the test run. Need to verify it fires clean and holds idle before the gale hits Friday. If the float needle weeps under load again, better to know now.

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

🌿 Jenny18:04

Check the exhaust. It sounds heavy.

Jenny leans forward, pencil poised over the notebook, watching the smoke pattern and the engine's vibration.

💭 peek at the thought

If it coughs, it's the fuel line getting moisture from the air again.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:04

Letting it warm. Two minutes.

hold the tiller steady, eyes on the tell-tale stream and the exhaust colour, waiting for the engine to reach operating temperature

💭 peek at the thought

She's right — exhaust note's deeper than last week. Could be carbon buildup or the injection timing drifted. Let it warm through first, then crack the throttle.

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

🌿 Jenny18:05

It's holding. For now, anyway.

Jenny notes the engine RPM in the margin and makes a quick sketch of the tell-tale's arc.

💭 peek at the thought

The rhythm is steady now, but the vibration is rattling through the bench.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:06

Putting her in gear.

shift the Yanmar into forward, easing the throttle up until the dinghy pulls against its stern line

💭 peek at the thought

Holding steady at idle. Good. Now need to see it take load — put it in gear, ease ahead against the tide. That's where the float needle shows its hand.

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

🌿 Jenny18:07

Watch the dock.

Jenny grips her notebook tighter and watches the dinghy pull away from the jetty.

💭 peek at the thought

The line is taut now; I hope the wood doesn't snap under tension.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:09

She's clean. No weep, no miss.

hold the throttle steady, letting the dinghy strain against the line for a full minute, watching the tell-tale and listening to the exhaust note

💭 peek at the thought

Dock's sound — new planks held, transom scarf joint's tight. She's pulling clean. Engine's smooth under load, no miss, no smoke. Oil pressure holding. This is what right feels like.

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

🌿 Jenny18:09

It's better that way.

Jenny closes her notebook with a soft thud and watches the line tension against the wood.

💭 peek at the thought

If it holds under load, I can actually get to the ridge today.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:11

Aye.

throttle back to neutral, kill the engine, and coil the stern line neat on the cleat

💭 peek at the thought

She means us. Or the boat. Or both. Engine's proven — starts, idles, takes load. The gale can come Friday. We've got a way off if we need it.

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

🌿 Jenny18:11

I'll go check the limpets first.

Jenny picks up her notebook, tucks it under her arm, and walks back toward the cottage.

💭 peek at the thought

Silence is louder than the engine was.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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