1988 Mercury classic fifty question

[redster55]

1. Have a 1988 tracker txs with Mercury classic fifty with power tilt / trim.. Finished some work on boat and engine and took to lake for test run. Ran great...but we were in open water running around 30 mph and hit a large piece of wood that was barely showing above the water. Loud bang and engine shut down instantly. Raised engine and could not see any damage to foot or prop...speedometer pitot hole was full of wood...put engine back down and it started and ran fine back to ramp. My question is what would have caused the engine to shut down at impact and with power tilt and trim what would keep you from tearing out transom if you hit something immovable...I am a newbie with engines larger than 15 hp and newer than the mid fiftys....
   thanks for any help.​
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[Alumarine]

The power tilt and trim still allows the motor to kick up when you hit something.
Not sure about your model but the older 50hp mercs I've used have a tilt switch that shuts the motor off when it kicks up.