Midsection fail

**OnPad** · 12-16-2021, 12:36 AM

Check this out.
I noticed a couple large holes drilled for exhaust relief.
The guy that owned it, claimed he didn't hit anything.

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**LakeFever** · 12-16-2021, 04:52 AM

Bet that was a fun ride. Look how thin the casting is near the lower mount bosses. Surprised more don’t let go drilled or not

**roadkill636** · 12-16-2021, 07:05 AM

Yep. Kids wanna drill them big holes on the rear of the cast mid and make a lot of noise and sound real cool. Sure is cool now

**Stoker boy** · 12-16-2021, 08:32 AM

The 260 20” housing are very thin. Drilling or cutting holes in them for an offshore snout is not a good idea. I’ve had 2 of them crack luckily I caught it early.

**LakeFever** · 12-16-2021, 01:02 PM

I would think if you were to add a snout you would have to weld the permitter fully and even then this is a biiiiiig risk. If that sucker flies off at top speed?

**Chaz** · 12-16-2021, 02:15 PM

Drilling the hole is not the problem. Not adding reinforcement is.

Flat "doubler plates" helps a bunch ...

Change of direction is the best. Short tube, half in, half out ... welded in place ..

**Merc 2.5** · 12-16-2021, 05:59 PM

But No one takes the time to reinforce the mid except the ones that have experience with this stuff Just hole saw bit and let her ride. That won't work 75% of the time

**David - WI** · 12-16-2021, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Merc 2.5

But No one takes the time to reinforce the mid except the ones that have experience with this stuff Just hole saw bit and let her ride. That won't work 75% of the time

75% of boaters can drive a holesaw... 5% can fly a TIG welder. LoL

**OnPad** · 12-16-2021, 10:28 PM

Hope he didn't have a sportmaster and nice prop.
Whatever he had it's still at the bottom of the Columbia river.
Probably a good idea for all of us to do a preflight inspection.
P.s Chaz you do some nice work.

**FUJIMO** · 12-16-2021, 11:04 PM

...the stock mid was a good design. they pretty much never broke if left alone...

**H2OPERF** · 12-17-2021, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Chaz

Drilling the hole is not the problem. Not adding reinforcement is.

Flat "doubler plates" helps a bunch ...

Change of direction is the best. Short tube, half in, half out ... welded in place ..

Yup... doublers spread the loads, many asked me when i built my bracket what the thingy going to the tilt tube is... I never liked a 1 inch tube supported by a 1/2 plate, not much bearing surface either so i added more surface and at the same time spread some load to the next fastener.

**Chaz** · 12-17-2021, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by David - WI

75% of boaters can drive a holesaw... 5% can fly a TIG welder. LoL

What about the remaining 20% ???

Fugimoto ... haven't ya heard -->

Looks killa H2O ...

So when they say "in single shear" do they mean that it breaks all at once ..

**Stoker boy** · 12-17-2021, 04:58 PM

[QUOTE=David - WI;3322249]75% of boaters can drive a holesaw... 5% can fly a TIG welder. LoL[/

What percent can stand on a ladder and TIG weld upside down?

**Forkin' Crazy** · 12-18-2021, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by OnPad

Hope he didn't have a sportmaster and nice prop.
Whatever he had it's still at the bottom of the Columbia river.
Probably a good idea for all of us to do a preflight inspection.
P.s Chaz you do some nice work.

I've always done that. I have seen some bad things happen that could have been prevented. I always checked my jackplate, fasteners, steering really well... lower, mid, prop, etc, etc. 10 minutes in prep can save you a few seconds of terror.

No different from an airplane. 10 minutes could save your life.

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