Hurricanes, Broken Engines, and Boat Names

Right after I finished my last blog post, I took the boat out by myself for the first time. I was very nervous, but if you don't take the first step, you never make the journey. Although it was my first time to drive a boat this size and one with twin engines, I exited the slip and the marina with no problem. I maneuvered around the docks with no problem. I have always been told that twin engine boats are very easy to control, and they were right. It didn't take long to feel comfortable driving. 
About 20 minutes into my maiden voyage, the port engine shut off and would not restart. I immediately turned the boat around to start back in the direction of the marina. I was surprisingly calm and went through the checklist of what I needed to do to stay safe. I brought the starboard engine down to idle and slowly made my way back toward the marina. While a twin engine boat is easy to control, a large twin engine boat with only one operational motor is not nearly as easy! I knew once I got back to the marina it would be a challenge to move around the docks and get back to my slip, so I decided to practice turning on my way back.
Once I entered the marina, I made the first right turn pretty well, but there was a boat coming out of the marina at the same time. I was able to carefully avoid that boat and then turn left around the first dock. I managed to make it back to my slip but was unable to back the boat in. With help from my neighbor, Holly, I was able to get the boat, bow first into the slip next to me. Crisis averted! Later in the day, four of us and a tow were able to get the boat in my slip facing the proper direction. Some people would be upset with the whole event, but I was actually happy to experience my first crisis and overcome the danger without sinking the boat or damaging someone else's property. The attached video is what I recorded during the crisis on my Instagram.


As I am writing this, Hurricane Elsa (now a tropical storm is coming right through Northern Virginia where I am with the boat. This is the first hurricane I have ever experienced, and so far, it has just been a little rain and a little wind. However, I have already had to go adjust the lines on the boat that are holding the boat to the dock. Wind is a powerful thing! It amazes me how much something we can't see can affect our surroundings. Fortunately, we are only supposed to get 40-50 mph winds.

I have finally decided on the name of the boat. Because of how much this boat meant to Pete, the previous owner, and how much he has been willing to help me (including fixing the port engine), I have decided to keep the name the "Dorothy Scott" in his honor. He named the boat after his parents and I saw how difficult it was for him to let her go. The last thing he took off the boat was the plaque with a picture of his parents. That strong of an emotional connection is something that I want to honor and show that I am the right person to take the Dorothy Scott on her next adventure. 

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Instagram: austinhigh5guy
Location: 190 Plantation Dr, Hague, VA 22469, USA

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