The worst sailing invention – My outboard

The Tillerman asks for our thoughts on the worst sailing inventions. I struggled with this one for a while. I wracked my brains for witty ideas about terrible sailing inventions. I couldn't think of a single thing about a boat that is less than wonderful. Oh yeah there is one - The outboard. Or to be precise MY outboard. Why? 1. It didn't work when I bought it and I spent more on getting it working than any other item on the boat cost. 2. Even then it didn't work reliably. 3. And when it did start working reliably, I broke the stupid ignition on the stupid remote which was in a stupid place where my stupid foot broke it. OK, I am lacking in personal accountability here. 4. Then when I got that fixed, I learned that the bracket was not safe as one of the pins had sheared away so was advised not to use it. So the wife and I sailed most of a whole season on and off the mooring and we were better for it. Pity about the dead wait on the transom. Although, I have to say, those wacky Scottish boys at Marine Blast helped me to see the funny side here.