Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

[leatherneck46]

This happened two weeks ago. Its a 9.5 hp johnson, I know about where, within 20 yards square. Its in 15 feet deep of river with a strong current and because of e-col-i diving is out. Any ideas about locating and getting this motor back in my boat. Is two weeks too long at the bottom? Oh ... The bottom is sandy.<br /> Thanks Rod

 

[MarkHPCA]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

You could try dragging with some kind of grappling hook. If you do get it out pull the plugs and drain as much water out as possible then spray into everything with something like WD40 to stop corrosion. Then you either take it to a shop or strip it down yourself, depending on your confidence.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[microblue4]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

I have never done anything like this, but I suspect it would help to attach the strongest magnet you can find to a line and get it to stick to the motor. You might then be able to get into an upstream position and use the line to guide a rope with a grappling hook down to it. Some sort of trap-like device that would close on it would be even better, perhaps, but that is beyond my imagination Good luck!

 

[wayne h]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

good luck i dont think u will ever find the motor being down there for 2 weeks. strong current could have taken the motor way down stream. i dont think a magnet will work because the motor is aluminum and stainless. if u find the motor u need to flush everything out dont start it untill u know the bearings are clear of sand the only way to tell that is to take it all apart and make sure its all cleaned out. good luck in finding the motor they are great little motors sorry about your loss.

 

[Bobby O]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

If the current and the sand has not buried the motor, it would be worth grappling. Wait too much longer and the marine growth in the engine can only be handled by complete disassembly, carb and all.

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Got insurance? File a claim and see what happens.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

15 feet of water, strong current and a sandy bottom. Forget it. It's buried under the silt by now. If by chance it's still on top of the sand, you may be able to use your sonar to locate it, but you still have the problem of retrieving it. If you have the resources, a drag net will be your best bet if you can weight it enough to get it to the bottom. Good luck, sorry to hear you lost your motor.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

No advise on how to retrieve the engine but what's the story on the fast moving, polluted water? Feed lot run-off?<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[Porto]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Just curious, how did you lose the motor?

 

[fastacker]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

how about a phone call to a marine salvage co?<br />They mght have special diving equiment.

 

[tony_cliffy]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Big magnet - they sell them at a lot of places. Anchor upstream and throw it downstream. I bet you'll find it. Once you locate it I bet a well bent wreck anchor would snag it andlet you lift it. What the hell - give it a shot. I bet it isn't silted over.

 

[sundog]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

dive on it. if you know where it is, your going to spend about 10minutes in the water. so long as you dont take any of the water up your nose or in your mouth (or any open cuts) your going to be fine. hot soapy shower afterwards, alchohol/vinagar solution for your ears. barring that, search and rescue use grappling hooks in sand, although how you expect to get out there without a motor I have no idea.

 

[bernieb]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Get upstream from motor cast 200 lb mono line with heavy sinker and large treble hooks,you can bring it to the surface .Have a jug with a line and sinker to mark motor when you have a possibility.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Doesnt seem a magnet would work.Not enough ferrous metal to attract it.I like the 100 lb. test line.But weight it and drag like a fish net.<br /> My limited expierence has been the motor lands on its power head so the prop may be sticking straight up.

 

[alcan]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

First things first, go find your motor. I also like the idea of drifting treble hooks on mono to locate. This would allow you to cover some area fairly quick and through. Once you think you've snaged it, use a grapple and rope. I can't see where you lost this sucker, but I think it would be worth a reassonable try. Unless the motor went under running it can stay on the bottom of fresh water for a quite a while before any serious damage occurs. If you do retrieve it, keep it submergerd, dump the motor in a garbage can full of fresh water until you can deal with it. And deal with ASAP!

 

[leatherneck46]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Thanks for all the ideas. I lost the motor trying to take it off the transom. All was well till my friend grabbed the back of the motor and thats where the release is for the hood, so I'm standing there with the hood in my hands watching my motor go down. I had just rebuilt the l/u of my 65hp evinrude, and wanted to see what she would do at wot without the 9.5 dragging her down. I'm kicking myself for not having ropped it to the boat. Anyway, the motor was not running. Thanks to all <br /> Rod

 

[roscoe]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

How about trying to locate it with your fishfinder, assuming you have one?<br /><br />Its big enough to look like a log on the bottom.<br />Once you locate it, drop an anchor right next to it.

 

[leatherneck46]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

I was wondering, since the cover is not on the motor, will a magnet stick to the flywheel? I do have a fishfinder. However, theres alot of stumps and logs, I was out with a grapling hook and was tricked several times, anyone know of metal detectors that will work in/through water? Going to try one more time, but I think it's going to make some crabs a nice home. Thanks to all <br /> Rod

 

[Bradster941]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

Rod,<br /><br />Check with your local dive shops. Many have underwater video cameras you lower down on a tether and watch the video on a monitor from your boat. I think around here they rent for about $60 a day.<br /><br />Here is a link to what I’m talking about <br /><br /> http://www.seaview.com/ <br /><br />Bradster. <br />Formerly from Lansing.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Lost motor in river !!!!!!!

forget the magnet the motor is manly aluminum and stainless. but the camera idea is pretty cool even if u dont find your motor it seems like it will be a fun day just lookin around anyway