As an inventor I always think about how to do stuff. And as a lazy one, how to do stuff in the most effective way, with the least amount of energy or in the shortest amount of time.

I had learned quite quickly that you do not want to drag an outboard engine over the boat to get to land, and more importantly, you do not lift it from the brackets when you are on the back of the boat!

I found this out with my 2 stroke mercury that weighed 27kgs/50 lbs and and my current outboard is a honda xlt weighing in at 37 kgs/70 lbs...

So how do you take of the engine, being shorthanded?

As with everything in shorthanded sailing, preparation is everything!

Move the boat so that you can have one foot on the boat and one foot behind the engine. Usually I moor the boat with the stern to the dock, this time there was another boat (easy accessible though, it was a working boat) there but I could use her in much the same way.

Once this is done, lifting the engine is quite easy because the weight of the engine is centred between your legs. Dragging the engine to the jetty was a bit of a balancing act but it went fine. I swung the engine on to my shoulder (I found this to be the easiest way to carry for some distance) and took her to the shed and cleaned the carburator.

After this I took the engine back to the boat, stumbled back to the transom and SPLASH &7%$#9@!!!!!

The engine lock had dropped in to the water!

Because I really want too keep this engine until I sell the boat, I always put the engine lock back on to the spindle, even if it is for a short time. I probably didn't turn the spindle far enough so that the lock was able to work itself free...

I hung the engine and secured it. Still being angry I took a long pole and started searching for the lock. I quickly located it (I thought) and took of my clothes and went in to the water. I took a deep breath and dove down. It was DEEEEEP! Much deeper that I had expected.

I got out of the water and did some more searching with the pole to be sure that I had marked the spot correctly. It seemed ok and I took a second swim.

I was able to reach the end of the pole and immediately found the lock. I'd done it!

I think that if it had been any deeper that it might have been impossible for me to reach it. And using a magnet would be useless, the lock is made of stainless steel.

I'm extra happy now with my honda running sweetly.