To the editor:
A few weeks ago, I went down to the Round Pond dinghy dock to check on my inflatable and found the outboard lying on the floor with a broken mounting bracket. Tied to it was an unsigned note, neatly sealed in plastic: “Engine sunk, oil in water. Must have gotten stuck under dock cross-bracing as the tide came in. Dunked engine in freshwater and dried out cylinder and PB-B’Laster. Maybe good?”
The motor still does turn over and it will run again.
But how do I find and thank the good Samaritan? I’ve asked the harbor master and anyone else in the vicinity who would listen. No one’s heard anything. In addition to knowing a lot about engines, this good Samaritan is a wonderful member of the community. I owe him or her a huge debt of gratitude for the time, energy, and thoughtfulness that resulted in my having a usable motor rather than a pile of corrosion.
Anybody out there heard anything? If not, maybe I’ll just have to pay this good karma forward!
Mike Herz
Damariscotta
