I know - let's hang an outboard motor on the paddle board!!

No, that was never a consideration...

It was 81º, hazy sunshine, humid, and not much breeze when I got up this morning.  Well, that is as cool as it has been since we got back, I don't have any other chores to get done, so it seemed like a good time to get the paddleboard wet.


Since it was the first time out, it took me a couple minutes to gather up all the gear: swim trunks, a long sleeve shirt, cap, water shoes, PFD, sunglasses... put on the leash, assemble the paddle, check the short rope line on the front... yep, I'm good to go.

Seemed like a lot to do for what I assumed would be a short ride.  Hey, you don't want to over-do it first time out.  It has been 5 months since I've been on the board.  No, it's not like riding a bike... my shaky legs were proof that I was particularly rusty at this.

I did manage to get to the far end of our canal without falling in... now to see if I remember how to turn around... slow and shakey, but I got it done.  Facing up our canal, I could see the sky looking dark and threatening - something moving in!  I paddled back to our dock, dismounted without incident, and pulled the board out.

I got the hose out to rinse off the board and paddle, and planned to get the outboard motor out and started.  No, not to mount up on the paddleboard.  But, like the paddleboard, the motor has been sitting idle since before we left for the Pacific Northwest - it needed to have some gas run through it.

I made an outboard stand from a two-wheel handtruck we have; got that out, mounted the motor on it, and put a tall container under it to hold water.  Before I could get the motor started, it started to rain.  Well, just a little sprinkle at first.  Surprisingly, the motor fired up on the third pull!  Ran nice and smooth... yes, Blue Sta-Bil is your friend.

A few minutes later, the sky opened up and it really poured.  It didn't matter all that much - I was already wet before the rain, thanks to the humidity.  I was expecting the rain to cool things off... I was wrong.  I did retreat up to our deck for a bit, to get out of the downpour.

Now, about mounting that motor on the paddleboard... no, that is probably not a good idea.  Of course, I won't be surprised to hear that some "extreme sport enthusiast" will give it a try, after this post... careful of that prop if you fall off!!*



* The author/owner of this site does NOT recommend you try this.  If you fall off and get chopped to bite-size pieces, it is your own damn fault for doing something that stupid.  Have a nice day.