Outdrives...

[dog]

I had an RNLI SeaCheck the other week which was well worth it. One question that did throw me though, was what did I have in the way of emergency steering in the event of failure of the main system.

My dad's Nimbus has shaft drive and an emergency tiller that can be fitted in the aft cabin. Is there any simple way around it in a single outdrive boat, as it has been playing on my mind since.

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[David2452]

I think the only way is to attach a couple if pintles and a detacable rudder, stock tiller.

David

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[dog]

How would you 'lock' the drive in the ahead position? There would be a tendancy for the leg to be pushed to one side or other under power.

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[David2452]

Most O/Ds are power assisted and the major failure would be a broken cable, it is almost impossible to move this type of O/D without input from the cable end.

David

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[PGD]

and what would you do if, like me you have power steering and the steering failed during a turn......

with twins you could sort of steer on the engines but on a single, a real concern


peter

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[dog]

So your steering just locked with the legs at an angle? I have been able to move the leg from side to side by hand when out of the water.

Id be interested to know if this is a common occurance. Up until my SeaCheck, Id only really worried about engine failure- now this concerns me a little. 170hp is no good at all if you cant steer it.

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[PGD]

it's never happend to me. I was just exploring the senario, bobbing about on the sea, can't reach the drive over the back, engine in front of the steering ram etc what's a chap to do /forums/images/icons/shocked.gif other than radio for a tow.

peter

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[tico]

Happened to me once when steering cable collapsed..
Into engine bay, lash steering arms to anything available (tilt motors) and drive back on 2 engines.
Wasnt good for a low stress level but we made it back (3 miles) & onto the berth without assistance.

Bit of a worry if its a single tho

<hr width=100% size=1>Been there, done that, got the oily T shirt

 

[gjgm]

I ve also had a seacheck, and while fully supporting this approach of prevention by those who have the experience of rescuing the unfortunate, I came to the personal conclusion that you may not realistically cover all their points- especially in a smaller boat. But if I ve covered all the ones I can, then its as safe as I can make it, but there will still be situations where the radio is the next step...


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[dog]

Gavin, I tend to agree with you. I am used to being pretty self sufficient- mountain biking/mountain walking etc- and dont like the thought of having to call for help. I like to feel that I have a 'get-out-of-jail' plan when things go wrong. I guess when you are reliant on a single engine, there may be a time when assistance is the only option.

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[Dave_Snelson]

You can still steer with power steering failure - its just makes for heavy work at the wheel.

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[PGD]

Yes last outdrive didn't have it, was thinking more along the lines of the points above of cable failure and drive locked one way or tother, I think the challenge is how to either steer effectively or fashion a rudder that could be attached to the back of the boat. Alternatively how to centralise the outdrive?



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[britemp]

I must say as a noob deciding on what boat to buy I am becoming a bit concerned about outdrives and they are putting me off the Targa in favour of a Nimbus with shafts.

You seem a bit buggered if anything goes wrong with them - I'm not keen on the big seals round them compared to shafts either.

Am I talking rubbish or are they a bit of a liability?


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[PGD]

I've had an outdrive on a single engine for 6 years or so and the only problem I got was the reverse latch wearing out so the drive used to kick up when going a stern.

I think you'll find that this thread is more hypothetical than real experience. I thinks we'll all seeing what folks have to say to the "what if?" question.

In terms or reliability so long as you service them with oil changes and seal / bellows etc changes as required / recommended they're fine - the problem begin when they are neglected. Oh and don't forget the anodes else the drive disintegrates.

The first one I had was 16 years old and still worked fine, I lost my engine to frost damage and refitted the whole lot, so I now have a nice new shiny one /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Peter


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[dog]

If I had the choice I would personally go for shafts for simplicity etc. Having said that outdrives have been around for a very long time now, and are a proven design. If they were really that unreliable, we would not see them being fitted to boats in the quantity that we see. If adventurers like Priddy are confident to use them then that must say something IMHO.

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[truebrit]

Why not purchase a second hand outboard as an emergency auxillary,and cover main engine failure as well as steering failure.Carrying a spare motor gives a feeling of confidence when main motor spits and coughs!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Mike....... V8s are sweet music

 

[dog]

Hi, I already have a small aux for emergencies, but was just thinking hypothetically if a situation were to arise where you still had main engine power, but just lost steering. Seems from the responses here- youd be buggered!! Better go out and buy a nice spangly shaft drive boaty then!!!!!!

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[BrendanS]

Lost steering earlier this year. Serpentine belt came off as I came into the Needles Channel in rather rough weather, so lost all the bits that run off it (water pump for engine cooling, and power steering hydraulics)

It was a bitch trying to steer (Mercruiser 4.3 with alpha leg), though much easier in one direction than other due to prop torque. Needed a lotof physical effort though, and wouldn't have been feasible for any distance unless in flat calm

Replaced belt in Alum Bay and all OK (then Sea Start turned up to check everything over)

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