Not sure if anyone ever explained the four types of fun to you before, but this is my spin:  

Type I:  Fun Now / Fun Later!  Example; going to a lovely dinner with friends, eating great food, and then relishing in the memory the next day.

Type II: Not Fun Now / Fun Later!  Example; having an epic, maybe involves a little blood or tears, but has a sweet story that you love to tell time and time again.

Type III:  Fun Now / Not Fun Later!  Example; drinking too much at a party, making an ass of yourself, regretting one’s actions in the morning light.

Type IV:  Not Fun Now / Not Fun Later!  Example; something that has no point that feels really bad, can not discover the lesson, no matter the distance.  

Well, life on Yankee Girl is full on Type II Fun with splashes of Type I Fun.  

We have been tied up to the La Belle Warf for a few nights now.  Yankee Girl (YG) is having a very hard time with her Yanmar.  We arrived here at this amazing free dock in La Belle, FL after having a wonderful day motor sailing in on the Okochobee Waterway.  If you have never slowly moved through central Florida, I highly recommend it sometime!  After a nice long run, coffee at Bridge Street Coffee and Tea and getting Mary’s gear stowed, we attempt to cast our lines and head toward Clewiston, FL in preparation for our crossing of Lake Okachobee.  That did not happen.

The little Yanmar YSM8 7hp 1-cylinder diesel motor started parading.  Unlike the parades where they throw candy at you and you are filled with Type I fun, a diesel that is parading is clearly Type IV Fun.  The RPM’s raise up and down like they are on a roller coaster and it puts a small shutter down your spin like something has gone really bad below your feet.  

From here, my journey has taken a dramatic twist from what was planned.  My hands have been covered in grease and diesel fuel and my eyes have been studying diagrams of engine skemiatics that have now become a part of my dreams.  The journey has also shown me the way life should be and how people should be treating one another.  

When this parading all began, I called on my friend Alan, who is smart and amazing problem solver.  What I did not fully grasp was his ability to attract like minded people and their willingness to go on some random adventure to help a stranger.  Late in the afternoon on a Friday, two work trucks show up, filled with parts, laughs, banana bread and willingness.  We worked late into the night coming to a tired conclusion that did not have promises or hope for the YG’s Yanmar!  

  
YG’s fuel was not moving from the the extrernal tank in the lazarett into the motor.  Bleeding the motor, changing out the electric fuel pump three separate times and stories of sailing mis-adventures filled the night air.  We did have moments of excitement and hope, only to be dashed by the parade.  The RPM’s would race and refuse to settle down at a nice ideal.  The questions started to fill the air.  Was the external electric fuel pump added because Yanmar’s own fuel pump was not performing?  Was this something that I would be able to find parts for?  Should I think about a new motor all together?  All these questions would haunt my sleep.

The next morning I reach out to friend and shipwright, Jeff for advice.  The second I hear his voice a release valve is open and my emotions start bubbling up.  Tears are flowing.  From there I explain all the information I understand and seek advice.  We chat about options.  He reminds me that YG is my investment in adventure, not one that will have a financial return.  

Alan returns later in morning filled with optimism, fuel filters and my old electric fuel pump.  He has taken a closer look at the old pump and feels that it is still sound.  Instead of going deep, we want to start with simple solutions first.  With tools in hand and Alan on my shoulder, I dive into the engin compartment with Yanmar and change the fuel filter and re-install the old electric fuel pump.  There is hope in the belly of this boat.  

We turn the key and hope.  After some small adjustments and head scratching the motor turns over.  Yanmar finally fires up!  We wait.  Will it settle down to that nice diesel pur?  Nope.  Still having a hard time coming to an ideal and the little electric fuel pump is getting hot.  Real hot.  The triangle for combustion coming close to completion is the engin compartment is true Type IV Fun.  We shut it down.  We need to take a walk.

Walking around the little town of La Belle we marvel at the beautiful Live Oak trees and stumble upon a wedding in preparation.  I am flooded with gratefulness as we walk through the arching branches of the old trees.  Wondering if everyone treated one another the way we have been treated over the past few days, what kind of world would this be?  A much better place, that is for sure.  

  
We return to YG trying to figure out why the fuel pump is getting so hot.  With no clear resolution in sight, we call it night.  A good night sleep and a new day might bring some resolution.  Decision day!  Will I try to limp along?  Roll the dice to see how far we get? Or haul her out and put her on a trailer to make her journey to Beaufort, NC in wheels instead of water?  

No mater what, I have learned a lot thus far.  The adventure has taken many twists and turns.  I have witnessed beautiful things.  A true Type II adventure for sure.