Has anyone else experienced outboard motor bracket failure/snapping?

[fliti]

A month ago, I was out in the RIB in sheltered, inshore waters with a moderate chop when the twin mounting brackets on our brand new 10HP severed at the clamps and the engine flipped overboard. I was in deep water and there was no impact. I was not abusing the machine by jumping waves or anything of the sort. I would say I was using the dinghy and engine well within their designed performance parameters. I think this is a warranty issue but as you can imagine, the manufacturer is wriggling. Has anyone else had a similar experience, please? For info, I attach a pic of the offending clamps.

 

[Jabs]

No but I followed a RIB along the A27 recently with a small auxiliary outboard tilted up and latched.

I changed lane because the bracket was never designed to take that sort of abuse.

The stresses must have been enormous.

Tony.

 

[TQA]

Was it a Tohatsu/Nisssan ?

If so I would be interested in hearing if you ever get any satisfaction from them under warranty.

I did not. Supposed to be good for 5 years.

 

[Ardenfour]

Is the motor gone and your left with the clamps?

 

[fliti]

Is the motor gone and your left with the clamps?

The motor was recovered

 

[fliti]

Was it a Tohatsu/Nisssan ?

If so I would be interested in hearing if you ever get any satisfaction from them under warranty.

I did not. Supposed to be good for 5 years.

What happened to your engine?

 

[pyrojames]

I had it happen with a tohatsu 3.5, but it broke at the sleave for rotation. Recovered the motor, cleaned, oil etc. ran for years.

 

[alahol2]

I had that happen to one of the clamps on a Yamaha but it was caused by corrosion between screw and thread. I tried to soak the clamp with penetrating oil etc but in screwing (forcibly) the clamp in and out it cracked the casting apart.

 

[C08]

What make of engine was this-it would be good to know if mine is suspect?

 

[gordmac]

Can you get a sample of the material tested? The material may be brittle and not fit for purpose.

 

[C08]

What make of engine was this-it would be good to know if mine is suspect?

Is there a good reason for not wishing to state the make of motor-this is quite important for others with similar engines that may detach, possibly spectacularly and causing injury? Knowing that a particular type of motor clamp could break would be helpful as cracks would probably show before totally failing.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Is there a good reason for not wishing to state the make of motor-this is quite important for others with similar engines that may detach, possibly spectacularly and causing injury? Knowing that a particular type of motor clamp could break would be helpful as cracks would probably show before totally failing.

Most engines apart from the smallest have bolt attachment points as well. Might be a good idea to consider using them for outboard engines semi-permanently mounted on sailing boats.

 

[fliti]

Is there a good reason for not wishing to state the make of motor-this is quite important for others with similar engines that may detach, possibly spectacularly and causing injury? Knowing that a particular type of motor clamp could break would be helpful as cracks would probably show before totally failing.

The engine was a Nissan 9.8Hp short shaft. It was 2 months old!

 

[fliti]

That is why I would like to hear from anyone with the same experience...

 

[C08]

Thanks for that info-my main engine is a Tohatsu (Nissan) 20Hp which is bolted as well as clamped and my tender motor is a Tohatsu 3.5 so I will be having an inspection of both sets of clamps.

 

[gordmac]

Is there a good reason for not wishing to state the make of motor-this is quite important for others with similar engines that may detach, possibly spectacularly and causing injury? Knowing that a particular type of motor clamp could break would be helpful as cracks would probably show before totally failing.

Hard to see if there are any propagation marks but I suspect there aren't and it was not a fatigue failure so no crack first.

 

[fliti]

Hard to see if there are any propagation marks but I suspect there aren't and it was not a fatigue failure so no crack first.

This engine and dinghy were used well within the recommendations in their respective manuals and failed after barely three months. There is no evidence of underwater impact. Sea conditions we were far from challenging. It's hard to conclude other than it's a design fault. With the new lightweight Caribe dinghy, it planes easily with two adults and groceries. Maybe it was not supposed to go that fast? If something like this happened to a car, there would be a recall and I would already have my money back.

 

[C08]

Having a Tohatsu outboard still under warranty I would be interested in the response from Nissan. Clearly for the clamps to break they were not fit for purpose and the engine/or section broken should be replaced. Please give feedback on how you get on with this claim. Good luck with it.

 

[LadyInBed]

Looking at the pic, the clamps were screwed up to the full extent. They weren't over tightened per chance?

 

[gordmac]

Unless the bracket is noticeably smaller than any other outboard the size should be ok, I suspect it is a material fault rather than a design one. Certainly looks like not fit for purpose, I would push them about it.