There's a lot of people who helped me along the way over the past 18 months. <br /><br />Those who stick in my mind, but not in any order of importance, are: Hooty, Dhadley, alcan, Joe Reeves (who supplied some obscure NOS parts as well as advice), JB, DHPMarine and OBJ. There were others and I'm sorry I haven't named you because I've lost track over time, but you've all got me to these two magic points.<br /><br />1. I'm at the Rhyll dock a week ago fiddling around trying to get some readings on the alternator (yes, there are more problems to sort out yet!) when I realise there's a couple of mechanics from Phillip Island Marine standing on the dock peering at the mighty '67 60HP V4. We get talking. The motor is about 5 years older than either of them. It's not something they've ever worked on. After they've overcome their amazement at the 12V auto coil I'm running on it (a fraction of the price of the genuine OMC item, if you can find one) and then given it a good inspection as it's ticking over, the older one says "Mate, it's running like a gem.". Which it is. I managed to contain my pride.<br /><br />2. Every time I launch it I just turn the key with the choke button down and it fires after a few turns from cold (thanks to alcan on the choke and OBJ and others on the bigger battery). Unlike lots of later motors which just grind away trying to fire as their owners waste ramp time.<br /><br />So now I've got the confidence to venture a lot further out than before and I've got into some decent fishing spots. Yesterday I'm sitting out there pulling in a gummy shark, a leopard shark, a few snapper, some King George whiting, and some flathead on a glassy sea and I'm thinking: "It just doesn't get any better than this". And it doesn't. Unless maybe I take out the dog next time.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who helped.
