A classic 1937 kauri bridge-decker launch we had always admired was for sale, so we arranged to share it with a son and his family. It was a bright light of excitement during the long covid lockdown.
But first we needed to replace the engine and eventually decided on a recommendation from a dear friend. “It’s quiet, economical and looks good too,” he said.
In May 2021, we ordered from the local agent. By August, we had paid the deposit. Then covid locked everything down again.
In September the agent wanted full payment.
“But where is our motor?”
“No idea” was the reply.
“Do you know if it has been dispatched?”
“Nope!”
A week later, we phoned again: there was no news of our engine, and the boss was on leave.
The boss came back: “Your motor is held up. A ship is stuck broadside in the Suez Canal. All the shipping is backed up in both directions for months.” We had heard that on the TV News…
Several weeks later: “Do you know the name of the ship carrying our engine?” “Nope, but we have the documentation,
