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The 7 1/2 HP Elgin

The 7 ½ HP Elgin came as a result of an accident. (See the Oooops Story) It was pretty fast for a young fellow like myself. I went everywhere with it. One of my favorite places was the Bayview Hotel. Although too young to drink legally, they had great music, good food, and many members of the opposite sex. Many of the boaters hung out there.

One night, it was way after dark when I left the Bayview.  With no other prospects, I went to my boat to return to camp. I jumped into the boat, pulled the cord and started the 71/2. As usual, it started first pull. I untied, pushed off, and placed the engine in gear. Nothing. I tried it several times, still nothing. I lifted the engine expecting to have to replace a shear pin.

Not only was the prop missing, but the entire lower unit. I rowed to camp. The next morning I rowed back to the Bayview. I wore my bathing suit searched the bottom below where I was parked the night before. No lower unit. Someone had probably stolen it. I rowed back and told my dad. He wasn’t exactly happy. I figured it was the end of my boating days. I was angry. I insisted that he drive to town and inform the Police, Sheriff, State Troopers, and Coast Guard. He said he wasn’t going to make a special trip to town just because I had left our boat in a place where it could easily be stolen.

He never did report it. We went home that Sunday and I knew life at the Pond would never be the same. He told me that I knew how to row, or, I could earn enough money to purchase a new lower unit. The following Saturday was a drag. I still got around, I just had to go with one of my friends in his boat.

Sunday morning while waiting for my friend to show up I saw my boat in the water. Closer inspection revealed a new lower unit. Dad had returned to Sears. He told them that when I had started the motor I had lost the lower unit. They told him that if he would install it, they would give him a lower unit off another motor. 

Once again, life was good at Sandy Pond.

If you wish a response, my email is sandypond1@yahoo.com NOTE: I will not open your email If you do not  start your subject line with "BLC".  I am receiving many emails at this address, and without BLC, if I do not recognize them, I will not open them.