V-drives in shallow water?

mass_rider · Criminal Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 88 City: westminster

OK, I've asking about v-drives and I/Os for one main reason, my lake has many shallow areas and I probably replace a prop once a season on my current I/O. All you V-drive owners out there, what kind of damage is typical or better yet a best case scenerio to a worst case scenario for damage when hitting bottom? type of damage? cost and time to fix?

Bowen · Posted: May 17, 2004 6:33 am Post subject:

I don't own one but I know enough about them...I've done the same in an I/O though. DD's and V-drives are built to run in shallower water than I/O's. But if you hit the bottom in an I/O it'll most likely be alot more expensive due to the tracking fins on the bottom (I had a buddy rip them off on his 'BU it cost over 2500 to fix, and he started taking on water). You can also end up bending/breaking the drive shaft and prop which can add up. Good luck...I know its kind of a double edged sword w/ choosing a boat for shallow water, ones made to run in shallow water, but its more expensive if you hit a sandbar.

surfsup · Outlaw Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 118 City: Orlando

Damage could be extensive - prop , shaft, strut, rudder and gelcoat - if you seriously run aground. Easily $1500 - 2000 for all. I'd recommend investing in a depth finder and noting the locations that are more shallow than others. I tend to run the same lines in known lakes to avoid any similar problems.....

Wkerat · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 317

Cost of repairing a v-drive compared to an i/o is gonna be similar. The v-drives usually can go in shallower water, but you cannot trim up, while you can trim a i/o you can only go so far and if you go to far will stress the u joints and can go overly high and not suck in water to cool the motor. If underway you hit a submerged object you can mess up a v-drive by ripping fins, usually they just bend, bending the shaft and or prop, and i have also seen rudders ripped off. For i/os you can easily tear off the skeg, bend the prop and or shaft, and also blow out the gears. In my experience gear jobs take slightly longer then replacing the shaft, but the time to repair will vary depending if the dealer has parts and the extent of the damage. EIther can range up to 3000 and even more cost wise, it jsut depends on the damage. Your best bet is to really learn the shallows on your lake and avoid them. I run a v-drive on my lake and have never had a problem while i ahve friedns who go throuhg a few props a year. Also, on a private lake i ski and board on, we run the boats in about 3-4 feet of water on the one end where we turn and have had no problems, but we have gone in there and marked stumps etc so we don't go near them. Every now and then a log will drift in or somethign of the sorts and someone will hit it, but that is a very rar occasion. So, look at the draft of the boats, and if you get a v-drive try to stay away from shallow area, especially if you have ballast on board.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Don't most newer I/Os kick up without breaking if something solid hits the outdrive, though?

BIZ · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Posts: 184 City: Dallas

how about just using your underwater hazard insurance, pay the $500 deductable and be done with it?

Wkerat · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 317

Outboards kick up, and i/os will go up, but it isn't enough when you hit...I have only ever seen one actually rip part of the transom, but I have seen them do some damage and have seen a lot of skegs ripped off and holes punched in the lower unit so they the gear oil woudl run out and lock up the gears. Both of em have their positives and negatives, but in all honesty if you are gonn ahit you are gonna hit, the only way a i/o may help is if you have to put in the shallows since you can put the drive up, otherwise when you are going ti will be down, and if you hit with it you would probably hit a v-drive too. As one of the earlier posts said, make sur eyou have insurance and go with what is better for you usage wise...

Bruky · Guest

that really shouldnt be something you consider when buying a boat...just try not to hit stuff...

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

surfsup has the best advice--purchase a depth finder, spend some time figuring out where you can and cannot safely go instead of being a complete idiot that f_ _k's up their boat and hurts whoever is riding behind the boat.

And as far as your orginal question, in twenty years of boat ownership the only prop I damaged was on a 60' houseboat on a sandbar that ran across the entire river.

And when I go to an unfamiliar area, I ask the locals and follow surfsup's advice.

Bruky · Guest

ha! Icap, same here. we knocked off the prop on a houseboat in a delta up in northern california, but never on one of our own boats. you just need to use common sense, and definately purchase a depth finder. its one of those small things that make a bid difference like the air in your tires, or the corn syrup in your coke...

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

I forgot to add, the only water sports injury, besides the blown knee and torn rotater cuff was the concusion I received while air chairing.

Before the depth finder, we used to do a visual slow pass before we chaired--the foil is ~3' below the surface. We checked and I told my buddy whatever you do, don't go past this point, its too shallow.

Next thing I know, I'm spotting my landing and what do my wandering eyes did appear--sand-only about 2 feet under the water. By the time I managed to get my head above water the boat was already turned around and to me and another friend was already in the water next to me. I was lucky the only thing I received was a concusion!

The prop/boat are not the only things that get broken in water thats too shallow.

kennethl · Addict Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 635 City: Champaign

best boat for shallow water

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

That boat blows.

I kill me!

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

kennethl, throw and tower and some fat sacks in there and you will be set with that fan boat Razz

KurtInCincy · Addict Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 645 City: Cincinnati OH

no rider could hang on behind that with 100mph winds to the face

Bruky · Guest

dang, perfect for those hot summer days. Mr. Green

Flying Tiger · Criminal Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 70

The wall on the maint dept where I bought my boat is covered with wasted props.

I carry an extra prop & puller,, and consider myself lucky I haven't yet hit anything with my direct drive.

I have a depth meter and shut off the engine in water shallower than 4 feet.

Never ever beach a direct or v drive boat. I see people do it all the time,, and occasionally talk to them at the club house at the river resort we belong to.

The have no clue why their prop is damaged.

They usually blame it on the prop, Honest,, I kid you not.

Lunch at the sandbar, Parker Arizona.
Whats that in my daughters left hand? I didn't notice when I snapped the pic.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

Flying Tiger

Been beaching boats for a very long time, no prop dings.

King of the Tigers · Posted: May 19, 2004 9:18 pm Post subject:

Haha! That pic is awesome Flying Tiger. Good try on her part.

Bruky · Guest

haha, clever.

jvanick · Posted: May 20, 2004 4:23 am Post subject:

Prop damage from beaching boats really depends on the way the shore line is on your lake or river.... if it drops off quickly, and you don't push the boat all the way up, you may be ok.

I still wouldn't do it, a good wake comes by and jams the tracking fins into the bottom, you could get scratches in your gelcoat, etc... just anchor it and swim out/in from it. Much safer.

BTW, nice pic...

-J

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

Yea, i don't beach my boat, but if it was in a cove with enough protection i might put it close enough to the beach where i didn't have to run it up on to the beach to secure it.

How old is your daughter?

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

flying tiger....
You keep posting pics of your daughter like that, you are going to end up with at least half of this board on your door step looking for, umm,, ahhh,, pulls, yeah pulls!

Bruky · Guest

why would you be looking for pulls!? Rolling Eyes

Ruune · Posted: May 20, 2004 8:52 am Post subject:

I was like "WTF is that... a prop blade in a ziplock?" then I looked at what she was hiding...

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

so, how old is that underage drinker anyway? I'm respectfully hoping 18

Bowen · Posted: May 20, 2004 11:43 am Post subject:

Yeah, your daughter looks about my age... Cool

Flying Tiger · Criminal Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 70

could be a diet Coke,,,

Flying Tiger · Criminal Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 70

ssrgeoff · Addict Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 582 City: So Cal

I beached my boat on a sandy beach and luckily have had no prop or fin damage. I did just pick up an anchor buddy so I will no longer beach it. Just get it close enough for the old lady to jump out and the water still be over her head. Only problem with this is if I want to bring the EZ-Up and chairs to the beach. Guess it depends on the shoreline.

shift2255 · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 23 City: Redmond

Bruky · Guest

flying tiger, how is this a jury?