Outboard restraint system?

[T J]

I recently stumbled across something I didn’t know existed, The Leash. I did some forum searches here; but didn’t find any relevant threads.

I’ve owned couple 175s on my Champ since 1989; and did run over a floating log once on Grand Lake (OK) about 50mph at 7AM. Took Champ to a fiberglass shop afterwards ($1017 repair in 2011); no motor, jack plate, or A45 prop damage.

Thanks for any opinions on motor restraints.

[25two.stroke]

The real question is why? What are you trying to do with it? You think your motor is gonna fall off? More likely to break something rather than the thing fall off if you were to hit something. Mostly I see lowers shear off at the mounting bolts, the cans crack straight in half, gearcases shear down along the propshaft, or hulls get split open...very rarely do motors fall off. And a tether is not gonna save any of those things I listed from happening.

[mrichartz]

Are you talking about if the motor falls off?
Or to keep the motor from bouncing up?

[David - WI]

https://drewcraft.com/product/the-leash/

"The LEASH is a patented marine product designed and engineered to reduce the risk of an outboard motor flipping into the cockpit in the event of an underwater strike with a submerged object."

[mrichartz]

Holy crap $300...we've been using bungees $35 w stainless hardware for decades never had a problem..offshore races boats etc..
But the leash does look easier to get it setup use if your not the kind of person to make stuff..buy damn $300?

[25two.stroke]

Yeah when does that ever happen? Anyone ever seen that? I've seen V drive transmissions pass up the boat. And I've seen outboard boats that hit submerged objects at 80 to 90 mph and all that happens is the motor shatters somewhere.

[David - WI]

Mercury has had them end up in the boat during "log-hit" testing or whatever the official name was... especially competitors and Force outboards; according to guys who did the tests.

[25two.stroke]

Mercury has had them end up in the boat during "log-hit" testing or whatever the official name was... especially competitors and Force outboards; according to guys who did the tests.

Interesting. I know some of mercs old promotional vids have boats running over sand bars and stuff and they kick up but never come off the transom. I wonder if anyone here has ever experienced an outboard coming forward or watched it happen?

[mrichartz]

Ive hit submerged stuff a couple times once motor bounced up and down..
Last damn time this happened

really glad Evinrude uses the bolt at the shifter linkage or that brand newlower and prop would have been at the bottom of the river..but never saw anything like that..
But hell have seen other stuff that you wouldn't think could happen so..

[T J]

Main thing I heard was log vs boat keel sound as I ran over it. I posted here because I figured you guys have seen everything at 85+ mph; I don't go over 68 (chine walk). I just replaced a 2003 depth finder, so I'm not on cutting edge.

I haven't read thru this 173 page paper yet > https://www.propellersafety.com/word...into-boats.pdf

I'm sure I posted here some since 2003 join date, don't know why it list 1 post?

[25two.stroke]

OMC had an elastomeric leading edge for gearcases!?

[David - WI]

https://www.propellersafety.com/word...-into-boat.pdf

[mrichartz]

I guess it happens more than you think.
What outboards are they running?
I just skimmed to where they say make it so it breaks away quicker..ahh easy for them to say at the price of outboards.
Bungee cords and stainless hardware..
If they need to make them break away do it at the lower of mid at least..and have it setup to retain it so it's not falling to meet Davy Jones.
I was doing 85 when I broke that mid didn't lose control etc boat just slowed down slightly pulled to the left and I new something was wrong. So i stopped saw it threw the rope around it and just turned on the radio and idled back.

[25two.stroke]

I guess it happens more than you think.
What outboards are they running?
I just skimmed to where they say make it so it breaks away quicker..ahh easy for them to say at the price of outboards.
Bungee cords and stainless hardware..
If they need to make them break away do it at the lower of mid at least..and have it setup to retain it so it's not falling to meet Davy Jones.
I was doing 85 when I broke that mid didn't lose control etc boat just slowed down slightly pulled to the left and I new something was wrong. So i stopped saw it threw the rope around it and just turned on the radio and idled back.

Man I'm glad I sit like 18' away from my motor the majority of times I am out on the water and on plane! But I do sometimes wander around the boat @ 25 mph with no one else in the boat...if I hit something then I could be screwed.

[mrichartz]

Man I'm glad I sit like 18' away from my motor the majority of times I am out on the water and on plane! But I do sometimes wander around the boat @ 25 mph with no one else in the boat...if I hit something then I could be screwed.

Now I've seen that happen someone cruising along with no one at the wheel hit something and guy goes flat on his face and boat is still going no one at the wheel ..
I would definitely say be careful doing that at that speed.
I mean think most have done it at idle or no wake speed hell even then doesn't take much before your the one in the news