it possible to flood a sterndrive?

[gener8s]

Hi everyone. I have a Bayliner 185 equipt with a 3.0L merc and an Alpha 1 gen 2 leg that I use as a cottage runabout. I have just changed around the configuration of my dock and I now have 2 choices for mooring. I can either moor the boat on the downwind side of the dock or the end of the dock. The disadvantages to the downwind side is that there is a very large rock approx 25' directly behind there and I am terrified ill hit it backing out! The other option is across the end of the dock, but in order to moor there, I would have to have the stern into the wind/current. Is it possible to flood the engine with the boat in this position? It is a small lake and we really don't get crazy waves, but it does get fairly windy sometimes. Any input would be appreciated. Also, how much force can the cleats on the boat withstand? With the wind gusting I've seen the lines tugging pretty good and I just don't want to do any damage. Thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have witnessed boats on lifts tip on their sides during a wind storm. I have witnessed boats sinking from waves over the stern and gunwales when moored and anchored. is it possible - yes.

with that stated, my buddy keeps his pontoon moored for the full Wisconsin season with 4 lines on his T-shaped dock on one side, and his nephew keeps a 19' boat moored with 3 lines on the other. they keep the boats about 2' from the dock, and only on one occasion the wind whipped up the waves enough to start to fill the 19'. however they tossed in a trash pump with a float switch for the remainder of the storm.

how long will you keep it moored? If you planned on mooring it for a long period, I would look into a lift.

 

[gener8s]

Thanks for your reply. The boat is in the water from May until October. Most of the other boats on the lake are moored with their sterns out to the lake, only the luck ones with deep shorelines back their boats in. Where our cottage is we face multiple challenges to boating given the number of rocks in our bay and the fact that the water level is usually between 2 1/2 to 3 feet by the end of the season.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would raise the motor and turn it around myself. I always moored bow out.

 

[gtochris]

Also consider some dock line snubbers, they take a ton of the pressure off your lines/ cleats. I don't know why more people don't use them but my boat sits gentle in it's slip while my neighbors boats are constantly yanking on the lines.. Makes a big difference!

 

[Maclin]

Seems to me that bow out and using mooring whips would be a good start. Mooring whips can still help even if bow has to be towards the shore. In any event having a dual backup bilge pump system and separate batteries for primary and backup would be prudent.

 

[thumpar]

The whips are the way to go. You don't have to worry about fenders with them either.