Once again, I failed to start the loop in 2023, for various reasons – the main one being that the ‘spare’ outboard engine had major issues, and seized. I had bought a relatively new (turns out less than 30 hours) powerhead on Ebay, so over the winter and early spring of 2024, I removed the damaged powerhead, and installed the ‘new’ one. It actually ran, and only had 28.4 hours on it! As a stopgap, I had installed a tiller model new Mercury 9.9 outboard on the transom where the damaged motor had been, and ran the boat that way for several months, preparing for the journey. If the ‘new’ powerhead had not worked, I was prepared to try the 40/9.9 combo. Luckily, I did not have to do that. After preparing and re-painting the bottom on FELIX, I took the 9.9 off of the transom, and mounted the ‘new’ 40 – the performance was better that I had ever seen on the boat, and FELIX was now ready for the 2024 Loop!

Mercury 9.9 outboard in place of 40 hp, which seized.

The Mercury 40hp powerhead bought on Ebay.

I actually rigged a throttle cable from the console to the 9.9 Mercury outboard.

I installed Nebolink to keep track of my everyday progress on the Loop.

I also installed an AIS unit I took from Skeetercat, after the AIS I originally had on FELIX fried when it sank.

Installing the ‘new’ powerhead on my ‘spare’ 40 hp Mercury outboard.

I had FELIX hauled at the Marker 24 Marina in Merritt Island, and prepped and re-painted the bottom. Mom Helped me prep the hulls, and painted the hulls above the waterline.

Before I took the ‘spare’ outboard home from Astor, I mad sure it ran and all systems were operable.

Preparing to get the ‘spare’ outboard off of the trailer in Satellite Beach.

I used a block and tackle arrangement to move the outboard down the side of the house to the backyard.

Finally got it on the back porch…

Removed the 9.9 hp outboard…

Got the 40 hp outboard down to the dock and onto the raised portion to lower it onto the transom.

Used my chain hoist on a beam of my boat lift to get the outboard on to the transom.

Both 40 hp outboards on their respective transoms – now with both cowlings matching.

I got out my new dingy that I bought several years ago, and removed one of the lower units to replace the impeller and propeller (both now 12 pitch, 3 blades) in preparation for the Loop.

The dingy on the dock, out of the water and upside down – both outboards ready to go!