SAFETY while boating

[fishinwrench]

10 minutes ago, tracman86 said:

Being thrown from that boat at 53 mph was one of the scariest situations I have ever been in. Until it was fixing to run me over! 

Oh I know!   I was ejected into 42° water at well over 60mph and had to swim with coveralls on.  No fun at all.  Adrenaline kicked in and I didn't realize I was cold until after I got back to the boat ramp.  

The boat was over-powered (225 on a 17 footer) I made a trim adjustment, the boat bow hooked and did an immediate 90° turn.    Busted my face, fractured a rib, and put an end to my "need for speed" in one milisecond.   

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I never used to wear mine. I upgraded my 60hp to a 75, and then had the computer flashed to make it a 115hp.   My little Tracker is a handfull now and i always make sure i have that kill switch on me. that mod V hull gets a little sketchy on a 17ft rig running 50's

[skeeter]

3 hours ago, tracman86 said:

Wrench my steering is the hydraulic steering matching the first pic. The bolt that goes through the motor lost its nut and vibrated out. I urge any one with this system to inspect it and make sure the nut is present.  It is not a bolt that is easily seen. 

That brings up the question ( the bolt that goes through the motor lost its nut ) as to why the manufacturers of Sea Star steering systems aren't using Castellated ( or Castle)  nuts and bolts with cotter pins securing them so this scenario cannot happen.  Wrench ?  Do they or are they just Nyloc ? 

[tracman86]

35 minutes ago, skeeter said:

That brings up the question ( the bolt that goes through the motor lost its nut ) as to why the manufacturers of Sea Star steering systems aren't using Castellated ( or Castle)  nuts and bolts with cotter pins securing them so this scenario cannot happen.  Wrench ?  Do they or are they just Nyloc ? 

My thoughts exactly it should at least be cotter pinned. I just hope everyone takes a minute to inspect their boats. 

[fishinwrench]

A tab washer comes in the kit with SeaStar systems (works like the tab washers on Mercury props).   Some boat riggers don't know what it is and don't bother with reading the instructions.  

The steering arm is actually not a high vibration area since it is buffered by rubber mounts on all 4 secured fasteners.  Vibration from the powerhead and gearcase is almost non-existent at the steering arm.

My guess is that the bolt broke, or somebody didn't tighten it up (or used the wrong bolt) when they installed the steering system.

[abkeenan]

Really sorry to hear about your hard lesson learned. Hope you make a full recovery to the best of your body will allow. I do wear my PFD all the times with the big motor but am also guilty of getting a little lazy on the kill switch as of late. Great reminder to knock it off and stop being lazy. Takes all of 5 seconds to attach it. Thanks for sharing and the friendly reminder.

[shark bait]

Glad you are alive and you still have a hand. I hope you heal well. Physical therapy is going to be a booger but hang in there! Thanks for reminding us all not to get lax with our safety. Prayers for you.

Becky 

[Brennan]

Thank you so much for your post. Stay strong in your recovery. 

I’m checking my steering right now. 

 

[Hunter53]

WOW!!!  Hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

[LD Fisher]

THAT is a scary story!  I'm sorry you were injured, but thank God you survived.  Every since I was knocked off my front deck by a wave I didn't see I wear an inflatable vest all the time and it has a loop to attach the kill switch to which I use 90 percent of the time...…...now 100 after reading your post,  The vest does get hot in this weather but I'm too old to go swimming again without it!!