Summertime Blues

There's a long story behind this picture...

We had friends of ours visiting my parents in law's summer cottage and after some afternoon coffee time and water skiing it was time to bring them back by boat to the mainland.

After that was done, I asked my daughter to take the boat to our closed small lighthouse:

Well, at this point the boat's engine ran out of fuel - but no problems - there is a second tank with ~20 liters of gas.
So I change the fuel line and try to re-start the outboard engine - but it it totally dead... nothing but the lights are on...

So - maybe we need to wait some if the engine is too hot - so we wait. But nothing.

Then I call my father in law - could you come and fetch us, please.
And I start googling for outboard engine starter problems...

After a while we are back to our "home harbour" I start checking the engine - and tell my daughter how the carburators work - and while apply some more gas to show her the "moving parts" I notice that she never put the engine out of gear - that's why the engine refused to start.

So I put the engine out of gear and it starts beautifully :)

I should have known and I should have checked - but I can assure you - next time we'll both know :)