Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position?

[go boat]

Hello fellow boaters!
I have heard mixed thoughts on this subject, wanted to see if I could get some input from you all.
Here is the situation: I have a 12' Livingston, that I routinely beach launch and land in the surf. I am looking at purchasing a new (used) 25hp motor that has a manual locking mechanism. Obviously, I cannot land on the beach with the engine in the locked position - I would rip the transom right off my boat! One friend said, just remove/disable the locking mechanism, and run it with the engine free, just be sure not to goose it in reverse. Another friend thought that running the engine without it in the locked position would cause too much stress on the transom as the engine would bounce and flop around as I navigate through swells and chop.
What do you think?
Thanks in advance, I appreciate the advice.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

The motor will not flop around, so that's a non issue, it can be used with it in the unlocked position no problem.

Now the other part. What do you mean by having to remove/disable the lock, just flip the lever to the unlock position.

 

[go boat]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Thank you ondarvr. That's what I thought, once under a load, there should be enough pressure to resist bouncing around.

To answer your second point, that's the trouble. There is no lever to flip that will unlock the mechanism. I looked and looked... and then looked some more, but I could not find anything that connected to and/or controlled the lock. The motor in question is a 1985 Mariner 25hp short shaft with electric ignition and remote controls. The only way that I could figure out how to release and raise the engine was to manually press up on the locking mechanism, which then released it from the tilt rod. Only then could I pull up on the cowling and raise. Am I missing something?

Any advise is greatly appreciated!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

I have found on many many OMC's that the locking mechanisms are a pure mystery, and sometimes the means to release them requires sticking your fingers down in places they clearly aren't supposed to go. I've seen them tied to the gear shift. I'v ehad them work one way one day and not the next as if some OMC gremlin snuck in that night and changed things.

Like most safety features and many convenience features, they just get in the way!

And I agree, run it unlocked and be mindful on reverse. As a shallow water driver I do not subscribe to "locked" being the default.

 

[go boat]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Thanks Home Cookin', you mention that you have "seen them tied to the gear shift", I did not check this. When I was investigating, the engine was in neutral, powered off. If this was indeed the case with this motor, should it have been able to be released at that point? (I would think so) Or do you suppose that the engine would need to be powered up to do so, and also in neutral? Once put in gear, it then auto locks?

Regardless, that's what I was hoping to hear.
Other than that, the motor is in great condition for it's age. I am ready to purchase, just been reluctant to pull the trigger due to this locking / unlocking issue.

I really appreciate the input!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Do you really want the motor LOCKED when underway at WOT going forward? Strike a log and you just lost a lower unit and/or transom. So No - the unit would not likely auto-lock in forward or neutral. Auto-lock would engage when the lever is moved to reverse to prevent the motor pulling up out of the water. If you are really worried about this locking device. Just remove it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Don't believe anything you "heard". Mixed opinions is a sure sign that nobody you talked to knows the answer.

The owner's manual is the authority on what to do. Run the motor the way it was intended. Yes, it should be locked down - that's what the manual says.

Moot point anyway....you don't ever want to land on the beach with the engine running. Shut it off, tilt it up, then land.

The locking mechanism won't prevent it from tilting, it'll just prevent it from flying up in reverse. Landing on the beach won't hurt the transom because its locked down, it;ll hurt the transom because you landed with the motor down.....LOL.

 

[go boat]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

True, JimS123, and that's why I pose this question in the first place.

Of course I shut off the engine before hitting the beach... this ain't my first rodeo. But I'm not talking about a nice peaceful beach - I am landing in between waist high+ waves and therefore timing is key and everything happens FAST, especially during higher tides. I don't have time to kill then manually lift the engine all the way up before running up onto the beach, and I don't really think that this is necessary. I just want to make sure that the engine is not locked downward, as this would spell trouble upon landing, engine running or not.

With my current set up, I flip the lever to disable the locking mechanism (as ondarvr mentioned), before my approach to the beach. Then I time the waves and run up on the back of one with enough speed that I carry forward momentum so that when I kill the motor just a few yards from shore, I continue fwd and run up onto the beach. The tail of the lower unit does hit the sand, but since the locking mechanism has been dis-engaged, the engine tilts up on its own and impact is very minimal.

Thanks to all for your input, keep it coming!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

I have two livingstons and a small merc/mariner but it's a tiller model. I also lived on the water and did what you describe almost every day, back then I had Evinrudes though.

On my Merc the tilt lock is linked to the throttle, so in forward and neutral it will tilt up, in reverse it locks down, this works great for what you want to do. I would find a manual online, or somebody that has one and check with them. Maybe you can ask in Merc/Meriner section here.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Don't believe anything you "heard". Mixed opinions is a sure sign that nobody you talked to knows the answer....

Amen. And that especially includes your post, particularly the part about running locked down b/c the manual says to.

Owner's manuals are not always the best source of information, and on same matters, they can be so overly-cautious as to be wrong.

Experienced boaters who operate in shallow water do not lock the motor down while in forward no matter what the manual says, and it has nothing to do with beach landings. It has everything to do with hitting unexpected obstacles. And you can land on a beach with the motor down (and off) and do no harm to the motor or transom. None.

And there is a technique for jumping dams and logs and sandbars while the motor is running but that's classified so that the inexperienced won't try it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Thanks Home Cookin', you mention that you have "seen them tied to the gear shift", I did not check this. When I was investigating, the engine was in neutral, powered off. If this was indeed the case with this motor, should it have been able to be released at that point? (I would think so) ....

If I recall correctly you put the motor in gear (while off) to tilt, suggesting that the motor did not lock in forward in operation either--which is the best way to run them. But it's been a while and I don't think I still have that motor.

I heard here that you shouldn't shift into gear while the motor is off, due to grinding the LU gears, but that suggestion is contrary to th way that motor was designed. Who knows.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Mariner is a Mercury product. The smaller engines usually have a block that clamps to the shift rod. When in neutral or forward, the locking bar should be in unlocked position. In reverse, the block engages the locking lever, or releases it--I forget exactly which-- to hold down the engine. Adjust the block on the shift rod for correct operation (If your engine is this design)

 

[JimS123]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

Experienced boaters who operate in shallow water do not lock the motor down while in forward no matter what the manual says, and it has nothing to do with beach landings. It has everything to do with hitting unexpected obstacles. ..........And you can land on a beach with the motor down (and off) and do no harm to the motor or transom. None.

.

I don't think unlocking it when in shallow water violates the manual. This is probably only for a short time (not running all day like that), and at low speed.

Landing on the beach may or may not be a problem...just depends how fast you are going....LOL.

 

[go boat]

Re: Is it okay to drive a boat without the outboard motor locked in the down position

I have two livingstons and a small merc/mariner but it's a tiller model. I also lived on the water and did what you describe almost every day, back then I had Evinrudes though.

Livingston's are GREAT boats! What size(s) do you own?

Everyone who has been on mine has always been very impressed at how well she handles, despite some rough conditions.