Bass boat, Rock, 60mph.....

[sliver240]

Well we were headed back in to load the boats after 4 days Bass fishing. 10 guys and 5 boats. Great weekend! I was passenger on my friend's 21' Stratos. We were clipping along in an area we had been through a few times and the sickening whap and jolt.... Needless to say the after checking the dinged prop the Idle of Shame to the ramp began.
After loading we seen the extent of the damage. We were surprised it idled us back!!

 

[gm280]

I see the pictures, but honestly I can't make out what I am looking at. :noidea:

 

[MH Hawker]

iv seen a lot worse, you have to sacrifice one the the boat gods every now and then

 

[sliver240]

Oops. The prop was a bit curled. The other pic is the bottom of the case where the skeg used to reside. Blew it and the bottom of the case clean off!

 

[gm280]

Oh some putty and a pliers and you should have it working in no time. Sounds like it is time to search for a new lower unit and prop now. I was extremely fortunate, when I had my Bass Boat, and running in the 60's I hi a ton of floating logs, and the only thing I ever had to deal with was a plugged speedometer pitot tube. I guess the Bass Boat gods were watching over me. :noidea:

 

[sliver240]

I've been helping him look for a lower, bit there is not alot of Evinrude 225 HO lower units around. I am really impressed that we were able to limp back after seeing it on the trailer!

 

[Alumarine]

No insurance?

 

[sliver240]

Talked to my buddy this morning and Insurance is covering it. Estimate is for $8500cdn.

 

[wahlejim]

Sounds about right for one of the new Evinrudes. Tough situation, but hey, it could have been a lot worse!

 

[MH Hawker]

and it may of bent a rod in the power head, tell your friend not to sign off with the insurance co untill its been used on the water for a bit, i had that happen to me

 

[sliver240]

I'll let him know. We clipped it pretty fast and the prop wasn't too bad, so here's hoping the skeg exploding bleed enough energy off for the prop hit.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I feel for your buddy. I however can't empathize too much. Going 60 on the soft water is a sure way to make bad things happen. We would sit at our camp on the Ottawa River and watch the Bass Boat guys rip up and down the river and would make bets based on where they were when someone was going to take out a lower unit on a rock(s) or a deadhead, or even worse like one guy that peeled back his hull like a sardine can. What was really bad was when they are doing 60 they don't see the guys in a tinny and swamp them, including us.

 

[sliver240]

Well Iron I assure you that we don't swamp tinnies nor do we play chicken with paddle boats. Low traffic on a Monday on a calm lake headed back. Water levels are way up and we were unlucky as we had been through that area previously. We must have been 5 or 10 feet off our tracks. I've looked at the chart and we hit the lone small rock in the area. Normal water levels and it would be exposed.

 

[H20Rat]

What was really bad was when they are doing 60 they don't see the guys in a tinny and swamp them, including us.

As much as I think most guys in the go-fast shiny fishing boats have a screw loose, have you seen the wake they put out at 60 mph? I can put up a bigger wake in my kayak...

 

[fhhuber]

I see the pictures, but honestly I can't make out what I am looking at. :noidea:

Bent prop... probably can be fixed by a good prop shop at appx 50% the cost of a new one.

Looks like they ripped the bottom of the gearcase open... That would be trashed if I am seeing it right.

****************

If being 5 ft off your track at 60 mph, in an appx 7 ft wide boat, means you trashed your drive... it was just a matter of time before you were going to do it. That's just not using your head at all.