Boat ejection. Scary stuff

[Ham]

I'll echo several comments. It got real bad real quick for those guys and they just had something break. Not much they would have done differently. 

When Running at high speed in a crowd, I'm going to be eyes forward ONLY. Those guys might not have seen them or decided that others were already rendering aid. IF you aren't stopping to help, fully on plane makes less wake and lessens congestion.

I will be adding checking steering to my annual to do list

[vernon]

4 minutes ago, abkeenan said:

I know I am checking the steering on the boat more often now!

I know every year that goes by I start the season by committing to be more diligent about my kill switch and PFD.  This visual certainly isn't gonna discourage my efforts any that's for sure.

To Thumbs comment on his steering wheel coming loose, a bunch of years ago I got the same sensation running back to the ramp at the end of the day.  Took it in to get looked at and it turned out the jackplate bolts were coming loose!  I do frequent "pre flight" checks on my stuff throughout the year but I can't say as I'd ever tried to shake the motor on its mounts before.  Note I said "before".

There's just so many critical moving parts on a high performance bass boat and each one of them is subjected to an unbelievable pounding running on plane in even normal wave and boat wake conditions that it's just inevitable that something is eventually gonna break or come loose.  As I just flat out don't possess the mechanical skills or knowledge necessary to stay on top of this deal I've started every year since then with a thorough checkup at my dealer.  Hopefully, those guys take it seriously cause I'm counting on them to get it right.  

Seems well worth the couple hundred bucks it usually costs me.

[176champion]

3 minutes ago, Sore Thumbs said:

Need fishinwrench to comment on this subject. I'm wondering what the motor does in this situation? Does it kick to one side and stay or does it have a mind of its own? 

The rotation of the prop and the thrust of the prop has a tendency to make the boat turn right all by it's self naturally. I assume the boat had hydraulic steering in which i don't know much about but i once the pressure is relived from the steering wheel your at the mercy of the prop torque. I have cable steering in my boat all new and it's a No feed back style which you can let go of steering wheel and there is a clutch in the helm that locks and keeps boat going straight if the steering wheel comes off or loose.

[bfishn]

27 minutes ago, Sore Thumbs said:

... When gates open it's chaos. 40 to 50 boats side by side trying to be first ones out. I backed off and let the crazies have at it. 

Nothing personal man, but I think anyone that enters a lock with 40-50 other boats fits the 'crazy' definition. :-)

[Sore Thumbs]

Unfortunately that was where I found fish. I was the first boat to arrive due to and early number so I was in the front. My boat runs upper sixties to 70 if conditions are right. These guys left me like I was standing still. I wasn't that mad at the fish to risk life and limb playing bumper boats with those guys. I will say it is an adrenaline rush to take part in. Here are a few pictures of that day. Love to have a go pro next time I do it. 

[dtrs5kprs]

I sooo don't miss river fisheries.

[fishinwrench]

Someone recently PM'd me about a stiff Seastar unit.  Here was my reply:

Hi Dave,  My past attempts at "fixing" hydraulic steering systems haven't been satisfactory, so I don't even try anymore.  My recommendation is to replace the whole unit.  The manufacturer doesn't offer up any service info, and your steering is way too important to play trial and error games with.   

Hydraulic steering is sure nice, but something about being connected to the motor ONLY by some trapped fluid just makes me nervous.  

[fishinwrench]

From what the article said "the nut that attaches the hydraulic cylinder came loose".

THE NUT?  SINGULAR?   They don't know WTF they are talking about.  Thankfully there's no "one nut" that holds it all together, unless the boat was rigged by monkeys.

[Flysmallie]

1 hour ago, vernon said:

I know every year that goes by I start the season by committing to be more diligent about my kill switch and PFD.  This visual certainly isn't gonna discourage my efforts any that's for sure.

 

I always drove a bassboat like a madman so I always had the kill switch and life jacket thing going. Luckily I never needed it. 

It was a good thing that he wasn't running in a pack. You never want to run in a pack but we all know that sometimes you get caught up in one and some of those guys aren't smart enough to not run like that. 

[fishinwrench]

An incident just like that is what slowed me down.  My steering didn't fail though, I was testing props and on the last run with the prop that I had determined to be the best one I came blistering down the lake, cut the throttle and began trimming down so I could turn into the cove where I launched from and the boat (360 Ranger) bow hooked and went 90° in a micro-second.    

One second you're dry and happy, and the next second you're wet and confused.....Or worse.