Turning at full throttle - dangerous

[dynamic]

Ok, another newbe question. Growing up without a boat, I always heard that you should never turn the stearing wheel of a boat all the way to the side and then hit full throttle. "The force of the motor will flip the boat over," was always the explination.

Now I have a boat, abet a bit underpowered @ 16 feet and a 65hp motor, and I have a couple questions. Can the motor on this boat "flip" it over, say by turning the wheel all the way to the side, and then suddenly giving it full gas? Also, if not where does this start to become a problem, i.e. a 150 hp motor on the same size boat? Finally, is this a factual problem, or more of an old wives tale?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

I don't think you'd ever be in danger of flipping the boat this way; probably something told to youngsters to keep them from handling the boat roughly. If you were in some pretty rough water, maybe a chance of a flip.

Probably the thing that can happen you need to watch out for is chinewalking, where the back of the boat basically "slides" across the water, the prop loses bite, and you can get out of control this way.

The best thing to do is use your boat; play with it and get very comfortable with its handling characteristics. Each boat handles differently in different situations; ie: water conditions, load, wind, trim position, etc. Familiarize yourself with how your boat reacts to these conditions, you will quickly learn the best way to cross a wake, tack in various wave conditions, and what "feels" the safest.​

 

[Bondo]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

A Boat,......... Like a Car,....... Or a Truck,........ Or Any Kinda Vehicle......
Will tend to get Squirrelly when you do Stupid Things.............

I Suppose that You could go out,+ play Myth Busters......
Let Us know what Happens when you go Full Lock,+ Hammer the Throttle.........
But,......
I've Seen/ Heard of less than 10hp being More than Enough to cause Death,+ Destruction...............

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Agreed Bond-o. I wasn't suggesting a full-throttle turn! I know that I've felt the back-end of my boat getting a little squirrely in a turn when not at full-throttle. I was saying that it is best to familiarize oneself with the boat that you are using BEFORE you get out with a load of people. I think it is important to know how your craft will perform under all kinds of conditions; that way you know how to get back to the dock when conditions are rough.​

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

I had an 18 foot with a 120 flip the engine to full lock on me. Dumb thing, I left the wheel for a few seconds. 36 mph doing 30 foot circles and crossing its own wake, again and again. centrifugal force kept me pinned to the gunwale and I had to STRUGGLE to get back to the helm. Boat was laid over with gunwale right on the water. Boat was bouncing so badly over its own wake I thought I was going to get thrown out and run over. Finally regained control--scariest 30-45 seconds of my boating carreer.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Ayuh,..... I Agree with you Studly,......
But go back,+ Reread dynamic's Question........

My Love's Big Brother, on a night Long ago,.... Was boating back accross the pond in a 14'er, with a 10hp on it......
In his altered state, he Tried to light a ciggerette,+ when he let go of the tiller,.......
He Took an Unanticipated Swim....... 1/2hr Later the motor ran out of Gas,+ he swam back to it to Row home........ It's a Wonder he was able to avoid being Run Over by his own boat........

I dare say,.....
Any boat that's turned Hard Over,+ Hammered,.........
Stands a Serious Chance of Over-Turning...........

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

YES, a qualified yes is the answer to your first statement

your questions was ' you never turn the steering wheel all the way and then hit full throttle'. that is correct. it may not turn the boat over, but could very seriously hurt a passenger, also if a weak or rotting transom, could twist the engine off the transom. they are not built for that kind of stress.

when you are accelerating a boat you should be on the straightest course, possible until the boat is on plane, then make you turn. if you don't have room to get on plane make your turn before.

take a safe boating course.

 

[QC]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Totally agree on the safety stuff, and there is another issue too to think about. If your helm seat has no side bolsters a hard turn at any speed can throw you out of your seat. Don't ask how I know this . . .

However, I used to boat in some really shallow water with an I/O. When I was off plane, in the worst stuff, I would often turn the wheel all the way over and hammer it from a dead stop. The dynamics just seemed to drive the stern down less as she slid a little and heeled over as she popped on plane, thus helping me with the draft issue. I've thought about it a lot and I really do think it keeps the stern higher . . . Anyway, that was a 17 footer with a 140 bhp OMC Stringer. I became very comfortable with it, so I guess I am saying you need to learn your boat. I'd try lots of stuff in moderation and just learn what's good and bad within reason. All of the boats I have driven give some warnings before huge disasters as long as you are actually still sitting at the helm and holdin' onto the wheel . . . With a standard rotation prop, I'd try it to starboard first.

 

[Launch25]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Agreed. Take a United States Power Sqadrons course! If you're a new boatowner and plan to be responsible for the lives of others aboard your boat, take it seriously. USPS is starting a "university" also, where completed classes will get you a discount on your boat insurance, I think.

 

[F_R]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Most newer boats of significant horsepower have lanyard kill switches to stop the motor if driver gets thrown out. But they don't work. Unless you use it that is.

I once saw a guy get grapple-hooked out of the lake after being ran over by his own boat and killed, with a 6 horsepower Johnson. Don't think it can't happen to you.

 

[Silver/Fish]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

You may want to read the story on page 4... First drowning...Where the guy tried to "power slide" his boat at high speed and was thrown out into the cold water.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

here you don't even have to hunt it: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=188757

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Not for me for many reasons. Number 1 reason is that I like to go home at the end of the days boating with all my family members present !!

 

[Bass-A-Holic]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

Another thing to think about is that i think with bass boats at least, a high speed turn can blow your motor b/c the prop will not get enough water pressure, turn freely, and cause the motor to over rev.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Turning at full throttle - dangerous

I've been in a boat nearly turned over when the throttle was accidently pinned down while we were turning the boat around. The motor was turned full to starboard and the boat went nearly vertical across the gunwales. I fell on the driver as he thrashed around for the throttle and shut it down. The hull sweeping sideways was all that was keeping the water from rushing in and that would only last a split second. We were that close to finding the bottom rapidly.

On the other hand, QC brings up something I and others do on the shallow parts of the WI River. We crank the wheel or tiller over shallow areas to get the boat to draft as little as possible while on plane. The way sandbars are shaped the deepest spot is the little trough right behind the bar and outside bends in the channel. A run up and down river has the boat going straight almost never but rather carving back and forth behind the sandbars between outside bends. With lots of practice I can also plane off in shallow areas as described. Probably pretty stressful on the boat but so is hitting the bottom.