Replies to Stern Drive query

[Guest]

Many thanks to all of you out there who were good enough to send us some really useful tips (and not to those of you just larking about!)
Went out at the weekend, got on really well on Saturday and again on Sunday but, on return to marina on Sunday everything went pearshaped!! Took us ages to realise that the starboard engine had stalled!!! These V6 petrol engines are so quiet!! Felt right pillocks. But it did prove how difficult these stern drives can be when such a situation arises!! What would you do for the best if, God forbid, this happened again and the engine wouldn't re-start???

 

[hlb]

Oh stop making a drama out of a mole hill/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif Your only driving up and down a ditch. What could possibly go wrong!! Get an oar for SWMBO /forums/images/icons/shocked.gif

<font color=red> No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Haydn

 

[tcm]

Re: The price of cockup

If one of the engines goes, you should ensure that you are smartish with the fenders, and alert others if they are on board by hooting horns or shouting.

If at sea, or you know you are somewhere where it's ok to drop anchor, do this asap to stop drift into shallow waters and buy some fixing/thinking time.

However, if one of the engines goes in a marina, you are indeed knackered and you are looking to minmise damage rather than pulloff some fab slick manoevre.

First thing is to do your very best to reduce speed as much as poss, perhaps getting nose into wind, but praps not if no space. You might be able to fling a long line ashore, or get a dinghy out to push you around or at least be a mega fender. Note that touching another boat at slow speed isn't as expensive as hitting another car at slow speed - the grp and so on is much cheapr to fix than panel beating and resprays.

Importantly, forget trying to avoid looking like a prat. Unless you are very very good you wil often look like a prat, and event then if the engines go down you'll be then be a supercilious prat which attracts far more laughter than any other type. Anyway, if you eventually are so good that you never look like a prat, you'll never need to alert others, and end up hardly meeting anyone! I have made lots of good friends by initially coming close whacking into their boat, or cocking it up and getting help from them. It's much tougher to start a chat with those who drive impeccably, and some of them even sneer at offers of help, which is great pity.

Make sure that you have ample stock of beer and g+t twith which to reward dockside help, and reasonable but not hugely expensive bottles of wine for total cockups. Actually getting towed in is worth about 2 bottles of wine. Over three miles and esp if they also fix the boat, you're probably looking at half a case or 24-pack of beer.

 

[LeytonC]

When things go wrong dont panic.

Ditch, Indeed. Rivers are natural. You are thinking of canals.

As stated before DONT PANIC.

try to practice some single engine stuff, cos i had the same thing
and I had to learn the hard way.

If you have an engine that stalls more than once get it checked out
ASAP since is can cause problems if both engines go down!!!
and if you go to sea then you want to make sure boat is 110% OK
BEFORE you go.



Thanks

Leyton
(River Severn / Bristol Channel)

 

[ChrisP]

With an outdrive there shouldn't be a problem you've got as almost much manouverability with 1 as you have 2. If youre that worried go out and practice. If the engines won't idle then get them serviced.

ChrisP

What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[duncan]

don't understand the problem - I only have 1 outdrive to start with; use the wheel like the majority of us!

and practice practice practice - including on one engine

glad yo uare trying to enjoy it!

 

[PGD]

practice, practice, very good advice. I'm on the Thames with loads of hard bits to hit at very short notice ie the bank or a lock - it's taken me a while to get the hang of it but now there isn't mauch I can't handle and get get the boat into a mooring that's not much more the a length long. Key tips as stated don't panic, problem for me is if one engine goes down - what can I do i've only got 1 engine

Have you got a bow thruster, if so this can get you out of a bit of trouble if the wind or stream stakes your nose (sorry bow) away - I wish I had one but until I do then plan B - if you're not happy lining up on somethiong don't go for it - always take you time and reposition

So it takes you a few goes, better that than a bump.

The good thing about stern drives it that they are highly manoeuvrable especially if you can picture in your mind which way the drive is pointing, this helps with the choice of forward or reverse. It just means a lot of wheel work and little dabs of power.

Good luck


Peter