Cruising -is- destinations, and for most of us, schedules. Sailing isn't always easy to "get", unless you let the wind take you where it will, and at it's own pace. That's how cruising was in Slocums time.

I'll be looking for your finished post, I find your cruises with the Merry's to Maine over the years a good source of knowledge.

You installed a Shark and it worked on one buoy? 50/50 success?

The "sovereignty" of moorings? Is that from the Points East mention? That is funny if it is about destination moorings. There are 3 or 4 destination moorings and then the rest are Cabot family, which come with shore access(I give them sovereignty).

I'm on the lookout for new destination moorings. There's a group from up north that has placed a few, one in Seal Harbor. I give them no sovereignty.

I would worry you might not stumble onto the fuel problem and that it lurks somewhere between the fuel tank and the engine. You may have to start from square 1 and inspect/disassemble each fitting, replace anything you're not 100% sure of, until you find it, - or rule out air in the fuel.

If your fuel filters aren't clogging prematurely, you don't have a fuel problem.