Standing on the out-drive

[alt]

Something thats picking my brains.....
When out of the water, I often see people use the out-drive as a step to get into their boat. ie. stand on the out-drive and then step onto the ladder to get onto the boat.

Is this doing any damage to the rams? I'm guessing NO since there's already a fair bit pf pressure on the rams, and when the boat is at WOT in the water there's a serious amount of pressure on the rams

 

[alan006]

I would not recommend it unless you are one of those fortunate people who can exsist only on Special K and have the figure to match.

 

[tinkicker0]

Dunno the answer, the transom is a serious bit of wood and some VPs use it for an engine mount cantilever type thigummybob.

I wouldn't stand on it though, just to be on the safe side.

 

[omega2]

rams

do modern outdrives not have lock downs catches? surely they do not rely on the rams to hold them down.

 

[Cliveshep]

do modern outdrives not have lock downs catches? surely they do not rely on the rams to hold them down.

At any speed forward the thrust of the outdrive is forwards along the c/line of the propeller shaft and imparting a twisting or rotational force at the mounting. The mounting and transom have to be strong enough to resist this leverage. They are more than strong enough to climb up on. It is reverse that requires the drive locking down or it screws itself up out of the water,

 

[[2068]]

Imagine the forces acting on the outdrive when the supercharger kicks in at full welly (enough to get 3000kg planing).

Now compare that to a fat boy who does sausages instead of Special K (me, 105kg) standing on it: it's not going to compare.

 

[Nautical]

Safe enough providing you stand on the heavier ally parts, the cavitation plate on many is fairly lightweight, I ve seen them bend when fatty boater hoofs himself up on one using it as a step. :-0