Tom,
Wishing you a speedy recovery, my friend. Keep us posted.
Yes, Portland Pudgys come in many disguises: sailing dinghy, row boat, motorboat, balloon gondola, lifeboat..... FYI, a Portland Pudgy is 7'8" LOA and weighs in at 128 pounds
http://www.portlandpudgy.com/dinghy-specs/
The PT Watercraft 11 is a two part, nesting dinghy, weighing 75 pounds, that rows and sails really well. If you've never seen one, check this out, especially the video.
http://ptwatercraft.com/ptwatercraft/PT11Home.html
Of all the indefatigable heros in the recent Wine Country fire devastation, I was taken aback by the story of one Peter Lang. Peter, age 77, owns and runs Safari West in Santa Rosa, a wildlife preserve, home to 1,000 African animals and birds.
The advancing inferno of the Tubbs Fire was threatening Safari West and Peter and guests was told to evacuate immediately. Peter declined to leave, his responsibility was to his animals. ("1,000 souls I was responsible for.") Staying behind, and armed with 400 feet of garden hose, Peter fought off the fire, but lost his home.. No animals or birds were lost, thanks to Peter's determined courage.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/articl...s-12276896.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf0sxOssOWg