It is indeed a small world. A Suzuki outboard in the cockpit was half way reassembled after a good stripping and clean up, when an associate was aboard looking at our boat. He was a Bermudian, where the Admiral had grown up in her youth. I volunteered info that I had found the half dissected machine on the seabed while swimming. His eyes bulged a bit and he announced that it was his father in-law’s. It shows how small the nautical world is. (We had been BBQ’ing with the Bermudian and father in law about ten days previously, with a common cruising friend from years ago.)
I was quite dumbstruck at the connection, and my immediate thoughts were of my new project slowly dissolving in a cloud, and a vision of the original owner enjoying a spiffing, done up machine. My intentions were that it would be as good as my last Suzuki that accompanied us around the world. I rowed ashore later and told the father in law that his renovated engine was ready to pick up. He said keep it. I said no, it is yours. He said he had bought a new one, so enjoy it. I said thanks mate, and shook hands.
Later I put together the bits lying around and the machine sprung into life. It’s a bit slow on the high end throttle, sounding like it is wheezing at the exertion. I’ll take the carb apart and look at that.
Post script: After sitting in the basement after a very busy two years as caretakers – every other job on the estate seems to take priority – we have sold the Suzuki 2HP.