Reminder to check boat/motor/and gear....
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 8:38 pm
Well.... sometimes things happen and you kinda don't want to tell da boys online about your mishaps, out of embarassment, but maybe it will help someone else learn from my dumb mistate.
I always feel like I keep my trailer in good shape, and I service my outboard regularly etc. But I had an inncident on Puget Sound tonight that was kinda scary.
I went out about an hour and a half before dark, to drop crab pots for a pick up in the am. Taking a friend's kids out.
I motored about 3 miles from the Shilshole Marina, dropped pots and motored back. I remember the sound of my prop at high speed, was sounding kind of different I kept going full bore. Turns out when I get to within about 200 yards from the Shilshole breakwater, I lose complete control of the stearing. When I look at the motor sitting on the transom. 25 hp Merc. long shaft. One of the bolts going through the transom/motor mount,, has completely fallen out.
Also, the bolt that acts as a tighten down clamp on to clamp to the transom,, this whole side of the motor has jumped;slipped off the transom altogether. Now the 175lb motor is all being supported by the remaining bolt. Even the remaining clamp down had become extremely loose. (when I removed that last bolt at home, it had bent from the pressure)
I always keep my 55lb thrust MInn Kota on the boat, just in case I have an emergency and at least I could get to shore with it. I fired up the Minn Kota, and just barely limped in to the Marina. Even being just a few 100 yards in Puget S. chop, it was a struggle.
So I guess I'm telling folks to remember to check your transom bolts on outboards, and the clamp down, every time you go out. All that vibration can only cause a chance for things to loosen up like this.
I always feel like I keep my trailer in good shape, and I service my outboard regularly etc. But I had an inncident on Puget Sound tonight that was kinda scary.
I went out about an hour and a half before dark, to drop crab pots for a pick up in the am. Taking a friend's kids out.
I motored about 3 miles from the Shilshole Marina, dropped pots and motored back. I remember the sound of my prop at high speed, was sounding kind of different I kept going full bore. Turns out when I get to within about 200 yards from the Shilshole breakwater, I lose complete control of the stearing. When I look at the motor sitting on the transom. 25 hp Merc. long shaft. One of the bolts going through the transom/motor mount,, has completely fallen out.
Also, the bolt that acts as a tighten down clamp on to clamp to the transom,, this whole side of the motor has jumped;slipped off the transom altogether. Now the 175lb motor is all being supported by the remaining bolt. Even the remaining clamp down had become extremely loose. (when I removed that last bolt at home, it had bent from the pressure)
I always keep my 55lb thrust MInn Kota on the boat, just in case I have an emergency and at least I could get to shore with it. I fired up the Minn Kota, and just barely limped in to the Marina. Even being just a few 100 yards in Puget S. chop, it was a struggle.
So I guess I'm telling folks to remember to check your transom bolts on outboards, and the clamp down, every time you go out. All that vibration can only cause a chance for things to loosen up like this.