A Leg Too Far

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whisper

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Discovered a quirk when last at the boat.
We normally raise the leg to the top of its scope , by pressing the 2 requisite buttons with the ignition switch turned on. As far as we were concerned this put the leg in the highest position possible.
However, by chance one day , I held down these buttons , while turning on the ignition and to my surprise the leg appeared to rise up even further.

Can the experts please tell me if it is safe to do this , as it may help us on our mud berth?

Thanks
 
hi whisper....not knowing the make of your leg, its a smige hard to tell, but if this helps mine is a VP290 duo prop and will raise to a max of 39degs.
 
whisper said:
Discovered a quirk when last at the boat.
We normally raise the leg to the top of its scope , by pressing the 2 requisite buttons with the ignition switch turned on. As far as we were concerned this put the leg in the highest position possible.
However, by chance one day , I held down these buttons , while turning on the ignition and to my surprise the leg appeared to rise up even further.

Can the experts please tell me if it is safe to do this , as it may help us on our mud berth?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I'm no expert but I think you've found the "BEACH" setting.
This allows you to ground your boat without damaging the legs.
 
Thanks Steve & Pipdoc.
The leg is a Volvo Duoprop - can't remember which model (it's with a KAD44 yr 2002).

The "beach" position light comes on well before we reach the normal top of the range.
It is the extra movement that we can get by holding down and keeping down the "Raise" buttons before turning on the ignition that is the new discovery.
I just wonder if by doing this I'm straining or compromising the leg mechanism.

Where are you, "forum mechanics" ?
 
whisper said:
Thanks Steve & Pipdoc.
The leg is a Volvo Duoprop - can't remember which model (it's with a KAD44 yr 2002).

The "beach" position light comes on well before we reach the normal top of the range.
It is the extra movement that we can get by holding down and keeping down the "Raise" buttons before turning on the ignition that is the new discovery.
I just wonder if by doing this I'm straining or compromising the leg mechanism.

Where are you, "forum mechanics" ?
Click to expand...

hi whisper...my beach light comes on at about 10degs right or wrong, i dont know, but thats mine....mine has gone up to 40degs, but i dont like the sound the pump makes that high so never go above 38degs..because i trailersail i NEVER leave mine up except for recovery or towing and ALLWAYS drop it as low as poss when left (after swamping everything in duck oil or wd40, which ever i can get my claws on at the time!!)
 
whisper said:
as it may help us on our mud berth?

Thanks
Click to expand...

No expert advice, but generally our sterndrive owners on inshore berths, leave the legs down and just settle into the soft, silty mud.
Before starting up, raise the legs up high and give them a good hose off around the water pick (just aim in the general direction with high pressure because of murky clarity), if that is the type of leg you have.
 
I've got KAD44s and similar stern drives on my boat - the "normal range" of the legs is -6 to +6 as you have discovered, by holdng down the button on the leg controller you can actually get as far as +40. This is way above normal beach mode, and the only time I've done it on mine was when she was lifted out onto a truck for road transport - they specifically asked for it to be that high to help with cranage.

I checked the manual and it doesn't do the legs/rams any harm to do this, but there are warnings about not revving over 1000rpm while in this mode due to the strain on the exhausts.
 
What you have found is the "trailer position". this is fine provided that you carry out regular maintenance of your legs, and the gaiters, both drive and exhaust haven't become old and brittle. There should be two rubber bumpers that the legs rest against when fully lifted into trailer position. I would not recommend mooring up in a marina for any time with your legs in anywhere near beach position let alone trailer as the rams will be exposed and subject to all the sticky orrible things that can do a lot of damage to your shaft seals if they are allowed to take hold. Always ensure your legs are fully retracted to their fully trimmed under position when you are moored up. I have used the trailer position to change my props in the water, but this is a pretty precarious procedure and should only be attempted if you're either confident or completely mad. :-) Hope this helps answer your question.
 
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Thanks SD. Am now better informed as I didn't appreciate that there was a "trailer" position - I'm a long way from the boat manual at the mo.

Re. changing props and anodes we normally do this with the boat dried out and with the leg at the top of the "beach" range. It may prove easier still, in future, if it's at the "trailer" position. We'll see next time around.

Unfortunately we have to leave the boat with the leg in the "beach" position as the mud in our mud-berth isn't deep enough to allow the leg to be lowered vertically. In fact, in the up position, the skeg on the leg still projects about 150 mm below the hull so we've dug a hole in the seabed where it sits.
 
"dug a hole in the seabed !!!!!!!!!!".....................the "green" lobby will give you 20 yrs hard labour for that !!!!!!!!..........................................(good idea though)
 
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