[Rhodes22-list] motor mount failure

[TN Rhodey]

John,

There is no pat answer.....but the first thing you can do is check your
rudder and outboard mount attachments fairly often. These are critical
systems and take a lot of stress. I don't have the GB Mount but I would
think you would want solid through bolt attachments with proper backing
plate.

Racing a storm to port in a sail boat is a risky proposition as you seldom
win. If something goes wrong with steerage or engine you may wind up
increasing your risk as you are now closer to grounding. Our local storms
move through quickly so I always keep a weather eye out. I would prepare by
battening down the hatches and securing loose odds and ends. I would make
sure all awnings/biminis are down and secure. I would furl sails and lower
boom and stay clear of any lee shores. If I could make headway sailing away
from lee shore I would. You should be able to heave to in 35 knots if you
have the sea room ... if you were off shore sea anchor might help. Motoring
in 35 knots may not the best first choice. Most of us don't have storm sails
but having furling main and jib is the next best thing.

That being said if I was being forced onto a lee shore and the motor was
underwater regaining steerage would be a priority. You could try tossing
anchors and hoping they hold.....You either get the motor in the boat
quickly or cut it loose. If possible I would sail away, heave to, or anchor.
It just depends on how bad the strom is and how far from danger I am.

Depending upon how dire the dsituation a May Day or Pan Pan alert on the
radio...may also be in order.

Wally
On 4/30/07, John Lock <jlock at relevantarts.com> wrote:

> JB,
>
> That's a helluva story, but I'm glad things turned out OK!  Sounds
> like replacing the plastic with SS is the way to go.  You've got the
> skills and equipment to do it, so that's a no brainer.
>
> For the group - JB got some help from another boat.  But for us
> novice sailors, what would have been the recommended course of action
> in this situation (assuming no help was nearby)?  Be nice to have
> that knowledge before I need it!
>
> Cheers!
> John Lock
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
> Lake Sinclair, GA
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> >Went out sailing today, nice calm day, 5-10 knots wind. We were out a few
> >hours when we say what looked to be a storm coming from a distance. We
> >pulled in all sails & started to motor for the marina. We were almost
> there
> >when the wind hit. White caps & large waves, a few came over the bow, it
> was
> >a very wet ride back. We were motoring straight into the wind when all of
> a
> >sudden the motor lurched sideways & turned us broadside to the wind. We
> had
> >the rail in the water with no sails out. I looked back to see the motor
> had
> >broken off the mount & was now underwater. I did have my safety line
> >attatched so I still have my motor. Now we are in probably 25-30 knot
> winds
> >with no motor. My wife was terrified. We were lucky another boat saw we
> were
> >in ey trouble & came to our rescue. They threw us a line & towed us in,
> >dragging the motor underwater the whole way. I thought the first time we
> >went out was pretty wild but that was intense. Real happy to get back on
> >land. I have some work to do on the motor for sure, not too impressed
> with
> >the motor raising system right now, has anyone else lost a motor this
> way?
> >
> >Jb http://www.nabble.com/file/8131/failure.jpg
> >--
> >View this message in context:
> >http://www.nabble.com/motor-mount-failure-tf3664407.html#a10238845
> >Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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