Not quite new wheels, but a new outboard for an old dinghy. We decided for a much heavier (38kg instead of 26kg) but also more powerful engine (15HP vs 9.8HP). It also is a famed Yamaha Enduro, marketed to fishermen and the likes, to run with little service, if needed all day.
When we called ASCO Motors, the local distributor for Yamaha outboards, they found one left in Fiji, with the next container shipping December to Fiji. OK, we want that one left, now! It then had to be shipped from ASCO Suva to ASCO Lautoka. We managed to get that shipment organized without visiting the branch, without down payment. Communication was a bit lacking, as in "I will call you when it is here". We kept calling about daily. Then on Friday, "oh yes it is here". "why didn't you call", "well.. bla bla".
Paying is another matter. ASCO does not accept credit cards, or cash. For days we have been getting cash for it from the ATMs. Now we would have to go to the ASCO branch in Lautoka, get the paperwork over with, then go to a bank to pay that cash into their account, then go back to ASCO and pick up the motor. While there, we got told, they could have sold that motor 3 times all over, people kept calling.
Organizing a rental car and driving to Lautoka on a Friday would not leave enough time before the bank closes. So we agreed to do all that on Monday. Until the box was in the car, we had doubts to actually score that outboard!
It was quickly unpacked, and tested.
With added weight in tank and motor, the daily jungle gym exercise, hoisting the dinghy out of the water, will (have to) improve upper body strength...
