Craig,

We ALL make mistakes! ** It's just that many never admit them. **

Many years ago when we moved Guenevere to the San Francisco bay we went out for a day sail.

The new (to us) marina was down a winding channel about 3 miles long. We made it out, but after a few hours of pay, I started the engine to head for another marina we had not visited yet. After only a short time the engine quit. No fuel gauge, so with Jill at the helm, I jumped down and did a bit of manual fuel pumping, engine started, but then quit. Jill asked when I had last fueled up. I said about a year ago. Our last marina slip was one we could sail away from, and in to.

I then opened a small pipe top on the tank and dropped in the dip stick (wooden dowel). When I heard the “thump” as it hit the bottom of the tank, my hart sunk. Now I HAD TO tell Jill my error!

We set up our PortaBoat dink and moved ourselfs (me in the dink, Jill at the helm) to the closest fuel dock.

The lesson I learned was to keep the dink, as well as the anchor at the ready any time we are in close waters.

Oh yes, by the way, I later checked the log book. I then once more had to admit to Jill that it had been almost exactly 5 years since I had put fuel in!!!

As soon as I got the chance, I installed a Wema gauge system!

Greg