Pontoon Wreck

[bayliner911950CL]

My father-in-law just bought a 2014 Lowe SS210 with a 90hp Mercury engine. We took it out for its maiden voyage today and I struck a rock in the river. I instantly shut the motor off and ensured that we were clear of what we hit. Turns out it was rocks and I made a wrong turn through the channel markers. Anyway, once we got the boat on the trailer the skeg was scratched and the prop was chipped and a tad bent but that is all. I did not notice any oil leaking or any other fluids leaking and the boat still ran fine after the fact. We were not travelling very fast, in fact I was mostly idling through there anyway. Do I need to have anything checked out? The boat is 3 days old, so I kind of already feel like crap for doing that to the boat since I was the one driving. Thanks for your help!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

As a guess I would say your fine other than the prop damage. Its not uncommon.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Don't worry about it, I have done that a few times.

 

[crb478]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

If you are going to drive a boat you will end up hitting things no matter how careful you are. Submerged logs and other debris are out there hiding and just waiting for you. It sounds like you were lucky, but you may want to have the prop looked at or changed out if its dinged to bad. I have seen several boats with slightly dinged skegs that ran for years without any problems.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

That's why it's important for every toon to have a good depth finder. I don't know how I made it without one for 27 years, as some of the water I was running in was 3' deep.

I'd just pull the prop and take it to a good prop shop for repairs. You were truly fortunate it wasn't worse damage.

 

[duke33]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Wow, that does suck. Glad everyone's safe and not much damage. If you've driven boats you know your gonna hit crap. Hope it easily fixable. Welcome to iboats.

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Man, Stuff happens when you own a boat. It is just part of the game. I have been boating for all my life, but I just made a dumb mistake this weekend as well. I just converted my trailer to a bunk style. I sprayed the new carpeted bunk with a silicone to make sure my rig slides right off. I backed the trailer into position. I got out and disconnected the winch cable and safety chain fully expecting to "Kick off" the boat once the trailer was submerged in the water. Yep, you guessed it. The boat started sliding off the trailer as soon as I returned to my truck. Lessoned Learned, but I still feel stupid.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Pretty much happens to all of us at one time or another. Sounds like you'll be fine, but I'd still remove the prop & have it cleaned up. Make sure you don't have any driveline vibration. Good luck !!!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Doesn't sound like you did any major damage. As has been said it happens to everyone eventually. Do replace or repair the prop before the next time out. You'd be amazed how much vibration a small amount of prop damage will cause, and vibration is not your friend. I'd go ahead and change the LU lube too and keep an eye on it periodically to be sure there's no water intrusion, or for a nominal fee you can have someone pressure test it and not have to deal with that. It's possible to dislodge a seal upon impact which will result in freeze damage and a rusted, pitted useless LU quicker than one might think. Don't ask me how I know.:facepalm: Pressure testing and gear lube are cheap. Lower units not so much. Again, don't ask.:faint2: Welcome aboard.

 

[jkust]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

If you don't already have one, I'd take this as an opportunity to buy a spare prop and always carry it with you along with the tools to change it. Same with insurance if you didn't have it as it covers collisions with submerged objects if you were to have done serious damage.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Sorry, but your boat is toast. PM me your address so I can come pick it up. You don't want to be looking at an old derelict boat for the rest of the season. No need for a thank you. Just helping out a new member to the forum. It's the least I can do.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Ray has long been known around here for his altruistic leanings.:laugh:

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

A while back I had bought a used 21 ft bow rider it was an I?O and it had a 5.7 Chevy big block in it. Well I was out on the Chesapecke Bay with some friends when I hit something in the water. I managed to get back to my trailer and the next day I took the boat to my favorite Marina. I told them What had happened ,so they said that they would check it out. A couple of days later I got the bad news Seems I had bent the out drive in two places. Cost around $5,000. I almost died. Then my wife reminded me that I had State Farm insurance on the boat and the motor and out drive was covered.. In less then a week I was back on the bay. Total cost $100.00.. My point is get the boat insured. I pay Less then $200.00 for my 24 ft Pontoon boat full coverage.

 

[bayliner911950CL]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Father-in-law ended up taking it to the lake the next day and it ran good. He wants to put a new prop on it anyway and I offered to buy him a skeg protector to hide the minor chipping. I got my boat running good too, can't wait to hit the lake next weekend!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon Wreck

So not gonna check the LU lube? Sure hope we don't see a post two years from now about a rusted out lower unit that insurance won't cover. His call, but it's a few minutes/bucks now that could save him thousands and a lot of headache later. BTDT.