Operating Sterndrive After Underwater Impact

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Author Topic:   Operating Sterndrive After Underwater Impact

calrocco posted 10-04-2009 07:34 PM ET (US)
[W]hile on lake [and] going about 8- to 10-MPH, and near a sand bar but over 60-feet from it, [I] hear the boat hitting from underside. [I] stop the engine. [The] sterndrive must have hit something[.] [A] moment later [I] smell gear oil. [I] need to get to my slip, about 10 minutes away. [I] make it there okay. [I] can lift sterndrive no more than [half] way. [The sterndrive] was okay before the impact. [I] push [the] [TRAILER] button and [the sterndrive] lifts all the way. [I see] bubbles and oil comming up from [the sterndrive]. [The] propeller has a hit mark and a curl. [It is a] stainless [steel propeller].
[Can] I move the boat to the [trailer] area without further damage under power?
[What] kind of damage?
deepwater posted 10-04-2009 08:36 PM ET (US)
Ok your from NJ and your going about 10 or 30 and you hit something underwater,,no way you can smell oil,,you smell NJ,,the whole lower unit is toast ,,because your in NJ
jimh posted 10-05-2009 06:01 AM ET (US)
If you are still aboard the boat and still waiting for a reply before moving the boat to the trailer area, I suggest you do that. You have already operated the boat for ten minutes after the impact. A few more minutes to move the boat from where you are now to the trailer area will probably not cause any significant further damage.
Once you get the boat on the trailer you can assess the damage better.
Tohsgib posted 10-05-2009 11:18 AM ET (US)
I am thinking you might have damaged the trim line, not the foot. They hang down. No way to know without getting it out of the water either on a lift or a trailer.
weekendwarrior posted 10-05-2009 11:31 AM ET (US)
Good thought about the hydraulic line, this happened to me. In my teenage years we hit a sandbar in a friends boat and the only damage was burst hydraulic lines. His was an older merc outboard with the hydraulic pump inside the boat and hydraulic lines back to the motor.
brisboats posted 10-05-2009 11:38 AM ET (US)
Was this your first trip with this rig? The trailer button is for lifting the sterndrive all the way, the trim button is for lifting the initial 15-20 degrees and the sterndrive remains in the water. Hence the different buttons. If you impacted the lower and lost fluid 10 minutes more can and probably will start to wipe out your upper gear set the dislodged metal particles from the upper will then find their way to the lower and wreak havoc there too as the two components share gear oil. In the interest of minimizing any further damage you may want to consider a tow unless you can confirm that the oil is only to the trim system.
Brian
Buckda posted 10-05-2009 11:53 AM ET (US)
I agree with Brian - the best solution to minimize any additional damage is to get a tow (hopefully from a friend you've made at the marina) to the local ramp or haul-out.
I would NOT operate the boat any further than you already have. Operating the vessel after you see thick grease/oil in the water post-impact was a risky move and should only be done when life/property are in danger and "at that moment" you'd be willing to trade a trashed motor to save your boat or your crew (or yourself).
I do agree that it sounds like it is probably just a hydraulic line - but I still wouldn't operate the vessel any further until you can confirm that.
Dave

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Author	Topic: Operating Sterndrive After Underwater Impact
calrocco	posted 10-04-2009 07:34 PM ET (US) [W]hile on lake [and] going about 8- to 10-MPH, and near a sand bar but over 60-feet from it, [I] hear the boat hitting from underside. [I] stop the engine. [The] sterndrive must have hit something[.] [A] moment later [I] smell gear oil. [I] need to get to my slip, about 10 minutes away. [I] make it there okay. [I] can lift sterndrive no more than [half] way. [The sterndrive] was okay before the impact. [I] push [the] [TRAILER] button and [the sterndrive] lifts all the way. [I see] bubbles and oil comming up from [the sterndrive]. [The] propeller has a hit mark and a curl. [It is a] stainless [steel propeller]. [Can] I move the boat to the [trailer] area without further damage under power? [What] kind of damage?
deepwater	posted 10-04-2009 08:36 PM ET (US) Ok your from NJ and your going about 10 or 30 and you hit something underwater,,no way you can smell oil,,you smell NJ,,the whole lower unit is toast ,,because your in NJ
jimh	posted 10-05-2009 06:01 AM ET (US) If you are still aboard the boat and still waiting for a reply before moving the boat to the trailer area, I suggest you do that. You have already operated the boat for ten minutes after the impact. A few more minutes to move the boat from where you are now to the trailer area will probably not cause any significant further damage. Once you get the boat on the trailer you can assess the damage better.
Tohsgib	posted 10-05-2009 11:18 AM ET (US) I am thinking you might have damaged the trim line, not the foot. They hang down. No way to know without getting it out of the water either on a lift or a trailer.
weekendwarrior	posted 10-05-2009 11:31 AM ET (US) Good thought about the hydraulic line, this happened to me. In my teenage years we hit a sandbar in a friends boat and the only damage was burst hydraulic lines. His was an older merc outboard with the hydraulic pump inside the boat and hydraulic lines back to the motor.
brisboats	posted 10-05-2009 11:38 AM ET (US) Was this your first trip with this rig? The trailer button is for lifting the sterndrive all the way, the trim button is for lifting the initial 15-20 degrees and the sterndrive remains in the water. Hence the different buttons. If you impacted the lower and lost fluid 10 minutes more can and probably will start to wipe out your upper gear set the dislodged metal particles from the upper will then find their way to the lower and wreak havoc there too as the two components share gear oil. In the interest of minimizing any further damage you may want to consider a tow unless you can confirm that the oil is only to the trim system. Brian
Buckda	posted 10-05-2009 11:53 AM ET (US) I agree with Brian - the best solution to minimize any additional damage is to get a tow (hopefully from a friend you've made at the marina) to the local ramp or haul-out. I would NOT operate the boat any further than you already have. Operating the vessel after you see thick grease/oil in the water post-impact was a risky move and should only be done when life/property are in danger and "at that moment" you'd be willing to trade a trashed motor to save your boat or your crew (or yourself). I do agree that it sounds like it is probably just a hydraulic line - but I still wouldn't operate the vessel any further until you can confirm that. Dave