My friend, Rich (the Gimp), and I left Deale early Wednesday to find a bunch of
croaker, perch, stripers, or whatever - mainly just to drift around doing some
bottom fishing.

Got into Herring Bay and got on plane. After about 10 seconds, I heard a fast
thumping type sound from the stern area. Thought maybe I'd hooked a crab pot and
had the rope around the prop. Raised the prop, looked, saw nothing. Started the
engine again and heard the same sound.

Turned out to be the serpentine belt. about a quarter inch had stripped off one
edge, and that piece was hitting the inside of the engine cover. I cut the piece
off, and the noise was gone.

Decided (thank God) to head back in, even though we had bought about $20 worth
of bait. We idled back in, keeping an eye on the belt, which was slowly
disintegrating. I'd stop and cut another piece off every so often.

We got within about 25 yards of the marina dock, and the belt let go entirely. A
few strokes of the 'paddle' (a long handled washing brush) brought us to the
dock.

A little examination showed I needed a belt, a new pulley on the power steering
pump, and a new circulation pump. The shaft in the circulating pump wobbled big
time.

So, the fish in the Bay are safe for another week or so waiting for parts to
come in and get installed.

Crap!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."