Engine popped out of the water!!

[salmonite]

so i took my new boat for a cruise last night and i really couldn't put the hammer down because i was in a no wake zone (erie canal) But of course i couldn't refuse. I got it to half throttle and my 115 johnson mounted with a jackplate comes flying out of the water. I was in 15 fow and i didn't hit anything.

What the heck happened?

 

[mphy98]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

You may thought you had not hit something but you would have had to. The force of thrust would keep the motor down, and therefor impossible to swing backwards out of the water. The only thing that would overcome that force is another object of mass that is greater than the force. I would inspect for damage, but if it was a soft log, or aquatic animal you might not have heard it hit with the sound of the motor.

 

[salmonite]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

didn't see anything but you are right it could have been floating below the surface. There is no damage by the way.
Might be a dumb question but what if the motor is too low in the water? Could the force be greater from water coming at the lower unit than it is propelling forward?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

didn't see anything but you are right it could have been floating below the surface. There is no damage by the way.
Might be a dumb question but what if the motor is too low in the water? Could the force be greater from water coming at the lower unit than it is propelling forward?

No....it had to have hit something...
At least there is no damage..

 

[pinecrestwoods]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

Could the force be greater from water coming at the lower unit than it is propelling forward?

Not if you're moving forward. Did the motor come loose and ride up on your boat somehow at the transom? All your bolts tight? Or was it like the propeller shot up out of the water? I guess your motor is mounted too low, because it caught something.

That's the beauty of an outboard, though. My family and I were exiting a wooded cove after fishing- at idle or perhaps just above- and I couldn't see anything, but the boat stopped right now! (I/O). I swear I was taking the exact path I used to enter the cove. First time that's happened to me- no damage due to the slow speed, but there are pics around here of trashed units because I/Os have no give.

 

[salmonite]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

the prop shot up! bolts and everything is good. Motor is really really low though, Haven't checked the plate in relation to my transom but the water pump hose is about two inches from the water, and i thought that was a little wierd.
I have never had it so low on any other motor i have used but this is a bigger outboard than ever before sooooo

I do have a lot of room to move it up on the jack plate.

What would be the correct height for my prop in relation to my transom? Should the captivaton plate be even with the bottom of the transom?

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

It was Kharma's way of telling you not to speed through a no wake zone

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

The cavitation plate should be even with the bottom of the transom from what I recall.

 

[salmonite]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

It was Kharma's way of telling you not to speed through a no wake zone

most likely

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

It was Kharma's way of telling you not to speed through a no wake zone

Beat me to it

 

[1rawdawg007]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

Aquatic animal? OMG I would hate to be swimmin around something that solid.. lol
Glad it wasnt damaged though...

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Engine popped out of the water!!

Aquatic animal? OMG I would hate to be swimmin around something that solid.. lol
Glad it wasnt damaged though...