I just bought a C-Dory 22 with twin Yamaha 50hp engines. I am concerned that I will rip off the entire leg(s) if I ever hit a log while at full speed because the engines are locked solid in the down position. I have owned other boats/motors where the outboard kicks up when you hit something. Is it normal for the engines not to kick up and what can be done about it? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Hitting a Log with Yamaha 50hp
- Thread starter KevinDU
- Start date
KevinDU":jqu40qsr said:I just bought a C-Dory 22 with twin Yamaha 50hp engines. I am concerned that I will rip off the entire leg(s) if I ever hit a log while at full speed because the engines are locked solid in the down position. I have owned other boats/motors where the outboard kicks up when you hit something. Is it normal for the engines not to kick up and what can be done about it? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Look where :roll: you are going????
Kevin, while carefully watching ahead in big seas or three to four foot chop we've had some very close calls with dead heads & other logs, fortunately only hitting some very small ones, so do appreciate your concern. Our Honda's will break away & that has relieved the stress of possibly making hard contact in our cruising in Southeast Alaska & British Columbia.
Jay
Jay
Matt Gurnsey
New member
Modern outboards have a bypass valve that will allow them to kick up in the case of a strike. Some debris may not cause a hard enough hit to make the unit by pass.
So, if the motor doesn't "pop up" you need to hit the log harder. :shock:
Now go find something else to worry about, this one is solved. :wink:
So, if the motor doesn't "pop up" you need to hit the log harder. :shock:
Now go find something else to worry about, this one is solved. :wink:
Simplicity
New member
we were on the mississippi after major rains and had to dodge many limbs and whole trees.It was exhausting but made it to the Ohio without a ding. the Ohio looked clear and of course we proceeded to hit a submerged log we never saw. It made a hellacious noise and the motor popped up. It was hard to believe but the only damage was a bent prop.Put the spare on and had no problems.The lower units must be pretty tough.
Alan
Alan
Matt Gurnsey":dszpdbqp said:Modern outboards have a bypass valve that will allow them to kick up in the case of a strike. Some debris may not cause a hard enough hit to make the unit by pass.
So, if the motor doesn't "pop up" you need to hit the log harder. :shock:
Now go find something else to worry about, this one is solved. :wink:
Matt,
Thanks for that peace of mind. On the other hand, if I did hit something BIG and HARD, my concern would be a lot more for the boat than the engines. Oh hummm, there's another reason I don't think I need to cruise at 40MPH. :shock:
Break an engine lower unit off, you are dead in the water. Break a hole in the boat, you 're on the way to getting dead. Hummmm. Not good to hit something big and hard.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
nordicstallion
New member
Saw what I thought was a stick in the water about 15 ft to stb. When I went by, I saw that it was the top of a big,big redwood stump.Horrors,The lower end would have been the least of my worries! Bow steering, chine walking,stumps,lions, tigers & bears!! Oh my!!! This, indeed is not Kansas,Toto!! Exiting though. Vern/C-dog
This morning I went to the Fire Department to spend some time with my former partners (....you know ....retirement withdrawals... :roll: ...). One of the guys was telling me about a recent fishing trip 3 of them embarked on out of Neah Bay.
They were fishing from one of the guy's aluminum boat about 3 miles out (in deep water) when they slammed into something. They were unable to ever observe what they hit. When they shut the engine down and raised it they had lost 2 of the prop blades. They were able to limp back to Neah Bay and when they pulled the boat out of the water they observed 2 chunks taken out of the boat's keel.
They suspect that they struck something metallic and have decided that it must have been some Tsunami Debris.
Whether or not it was Tsunami Debris, it certainly is true that debris from the Tsunami does create another hazard that is lurking out there.
(After seeing the damage, he said they were glad that they were not running a stainless steel prop).
Glad I don't drive a speedboat!
They were fishing from one of the guy's aluminum boat about 3 miles out (in deep water) when they slammed into something. They were unable to ever observe what they hit. When they shut the engine down and raised it they had lost 2 of the prop blades. They were able to limp back to Neah Bay and when they pulled the boat out of the water they observed 2 chunks taken out of the boat's keel.
They suspect that they struck something metallic and have decided that it must have been some Tsunami Debris.
Whether or not it was Tsunami Debris, it certainly is true that debris from the Tsunami does create another hazard that is lurking out there.
(After seeing the damage, he said they were glad that they were not running a stainless steel prop).
Glad I don't drive a speedboat!