Diesel outboards on the Atchafalaya River

Back in March, David LeBlanc, regional sales director for Diesel Outboards, invited me aboard the 42'x13' multipurpose workboat Miss Ida, part of TK Boat Rentals’ fleet, to check out the performance of the twin Oxe 200-hp diesel outboards hanging from the boat’s stern. It was the end of April before we could get our schedules to mesh, and we made plans for a ride along. It happened that three people from Diversified Communications, our main/Maine office in Portland, were scheduled to come down for the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) golf tournament on May 1. So, I suggested that we schedule the ride along for that week, if possible. Well, LeBlanc made it happen.