How do you remember....?

[Fishermark]

I know that it is recommended that you store your boat with the outdrive down, (Mercruiser alpha 1) and I do, in order to keep the bellows from getting a "set" in them. But I confess I am always paranoid I will forget to put it back up when it comes time to drive off down the road. So far so good! <br /><br />Does anyone have any tips for remembering to "trailer" the outdrive when you hook up for a day of boating? (A better tip than , "Just remember to check." )

 

[rbezdon]

Re: How do you remember....?

I have had the same thought. I have figured bellows are cheaper than lower units so I just store mine in the trailering position. I have had my boat since 1989 (it is an 88) and have stored it in the trailering position on the trailer the whole time I have owned it. This year is the first time I repalced the drive and exhaust bellows and both were in perfect (well almost) condition so who knows. I still feel that one time to forget whold be worth having to replace a bellows every few years.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: How do you remember....?

Yep, you should see it clearly when you walk to the back of your trailer to check the installation of the trailering tie downs. A good time to look at the plug too. Or when you are back there checking your trailers lights' operation. Many reasons to be back there & see the position of the drive.

 

[rbezdon]

Re: How do you remember....?

I agree, but just in case, is it worth the risk?? My experience is no. I have pulled the boat up the ramp several times forgetting to raise the drive (and found it when I went to put the trailer tiedowns on as you suggest) but I just would afraid to forget just once.......

 

[tommays]

Re: How do you remember....?

i leave mine down and raiseing it up gives me a battery test before i leave the driveway <br /><br />i understand forgetting to raise it on the ramp BUT if you leave it down when your hooking up the trailer you really should not be driveing that day <br /><br />tommays

 

[Fishermark]

Re: How do you remember....?

I just installed a new outdrive from Sterndrive Engineering a few months ago and took the boat out today. (Did pretty good fishing! ) I guess I am leaning towards Ron's opinion. I use the boat year around so it doesn't get stored for long in any position actually.<br /><br />Not to hijack my own thread, but since trailering tie downs were brought up, are they needed on a large, heavy boat? Mine is big and heavy - it certainly isn't going anywhere, and if it is involved in an auto accident, a couple of straps isn't going to keep it on the trailer.

 

[rbezdon]

Re: How do you remember....?

Probably should not hijack this thread but I didnt start it. Mytie downs keep the boat from rolling off the back say during a hard acceleration. I have a roller trailer so this may be more of an issue for you if you dont but with out the tie downs the only thing holding the boat on the trailer is the eye hook on the nose which the winch pull is attached.

 

[QC]

Re: How do you remember....?

Tilliam and tommays are all over this. You need a checklist/system for retrieving as well. Considering your logic (not being a smarta$$) you should leave it up in the water too . . . and of course you wouldn't.<br /><br />Sooooooo IMHO what you should do is walk around the stern EVERY time you go to leave and 1) check your tie downs 2) check your lights and 3) raise your drive. I purposely left plug off because that really should be on your launch checklist when you get to the ramp . . .<br /><br />BTW, I trim my drive out to the max as I idle onto the trailer. Not tilt or trailer, but I trim as I come forward just as I would if I was beaching it. This way if I forget to tilt all of the way up once it's on the trailer, I don't drag my drive up the ramp. I then do the same checks before heading home; tie downs on and the lights, and . . . I raise and/or double check the drive.<br /><br />Checklists and procedures are just part of the deal.

 

[QC]

Re: How do you remember....?

Absolutely on the tie downs. Another way to think of it is they keep your trailer UP if the combo gets airborne. Look in the mirror sometimes when you hit a really bumpy spot that you din't see in time. I have seen my trailer tires come off the ground more than once so I want my trailer "following" the boat wherever it goes . . .

 

[tommays]

Re: How do you remember....?

the tie downs really hold the trailer to the boat<br /><br />i am really glad i have them everytime i take the boat off long island its a pretty sure thing that the rig is going to see some AIR TIME on the cross bronx or one of the other fine roads we have here <br /><br /><br />you dont even want to think about the dammage that can happen to the hull if it bounces into a bad position on the trailer<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: How do you remember....?

anyone that doesnt check a trailer from front to back when they hook it on a car they are driving should get into the habit of doing a "walkaround".

 

[rbezdon]

Re: How do you remember....?

I agree with all of you guys but there is no way you will ALWAYS remember. Look around this site. So many issues are related to that one time something distracts you or something happens to change your routine. Several of the most experienced guys on this site have admitted to the other cardinal sin no boater should ever make because it could cost you your boat, engine or both and that is to launch without the plug in. Again, all the same rules of routine, check lists etc apply but I just read a posting a week ot two ago where a guy did it and low and behold several of you out there admitted to doing the same thing as well as saying that they believed virtually every boater will make that mistake at least once in their boating career. I have a pretty good check routine but I tell you, there has been more than once where right in the middle of one of the kids runs up (or the wife) with some crisis or other, I walk away and poof, there goes the routine. Once it was a hard rain. I had the boat out of the garage tuning it on the muffs. The rain came and I quickly stopped the tune and went to hurriedly back the boat into the garage. Did it with the engine still most of the way down and smacked the skeg pretty hard on the 2" step up into the garage. Good thing I was going in instead of out or I would have done exactly what we are discussing. For this reason, I give up trying to save a very small slight chance of shaping the bellows (which are cheap and easy to replace) for the chance of running away with the unit down. My suggestion and my opinion but I'll live with the (minor) consequences. I belive I confirmed it when I took those 18 year old bellows off a couple of days ago and they were almost perfectly straight.

 

[vicsponjr]

Re: How do you remember....?

My boat does it for me. I leave it in the up position, and by the time I get back to the boat the drive is down again. Here I thought my arms were bad, but its just the automatic bellows protector!!!

 

[deputydawg]

Re: How do you remember....?

Mine rides so low on the trailer that, even with my drop hitch, I can't raise the jack far enough to hook up if it is down. I know by the feel of the jack handle.<br />Also I have a wife that stands there runningme through the checklist every few seconds all the way to the lake <br />plug<br />life jackets<br />drive up<br />straps on<br />jack up<br />safetyu chains on<br />lights hooked up<br />blah <br />blah blah

 

[Fishermark]

Re: How do you remember....?

its just the automatic bellows protector!!!

<br /><br />Actually, I like the idea of a written check list. I may go that route. For what it is worth, I do the walk-around routine - checking the trailer lights, etc, and I haven't forgotten to put the outdrive up YET, I simply asked in order to find out if someone had a simple, practical way of remembering. Like I said, I may print off a written check list and keep it handy. Thanks for the replys.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: How do you remember....?

Vic, I love your attitude! I am LMAO thinking how you turned a mechanical problem into a positive & a darn funny joke! Thanks for the smile.<br />Vatter, sorry for your mishap, but I am confused...why was rain on a boat a need to rush & almost break it?<br />I guess to each his own, good luck fisher!