running through silt in channel

[goingboeing737]

The channel to our little harbor/boat house has filled with silt.<br /><br />I ran aground about 3 times trying to get out yesterday. <br /><br />My question is what am I screwing up by powering through the silt. I have the lower unit pretty high on the trim. Actually past trim and into the tilt/trailer range, and still getting stuck.<br /><br />I'm sure it's not good for the impeller.....<br /><br />It's a 140 Merc I/O on a 17' Four Winns.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: running through silt in channel

........And it's really bad for your u-joints to operate into the trailer position. The trim limit switch has a purpose. If you continue doing this you wil destroy your U-joint and gimbal bearing. Mud is not good for your impeller or your engine.......J

 

[tommays]

Re: running through silt in channel

i find that as i tilt up higher the angle of the drive just pushes the stern down deeper instead of forward and your really no better off<br /><br />if you have to do this everytime you use the boat you would be much better off finding a small outboard to get to deep enough water to run with the drive down <br /><br />its going to far cheeper than beating up the drive and motor <br /><br />i have cloged my stat many times this way<br /><br />tommays

 

[Fishermark]

Re: running through silt in channel

We have a lot of muddy / sandy shallows in our area as well, and I have to disagree somwhat with the above posters. While you don't want to raise it up too high, it is certainly necessary at times. Buying an outboard just to get through this area seems a little excessive. My Dad boats two or three times a week in the Tampa Bay area with his 19' Sportcraft with a 140 Mercruiser / alpha one and hasn't had any problems yet. He's been boating for years. He goes through a very shallow channel and more often than not stirs up some silt / sand.

 

[KRS]

Re: running through silt in channel

You state that you "power" through the silt... I am guessing that means you are running with a lot of throttle. This is not good for your coupler either. I believe that when you place excessive pressure on the CV joint (ie: running under throttle with leg up higher than trim limiter switch allows) it endangers the coupler.

 

[goingboeing737]

Re: running through silt in channel

A little better today. Only got "high sided" once each way.<br /><br />I'm not giving it too much throttle, a little past idle, maybe a little more.<br /><br />Talked to a couple of others in the harbor today, everybody is having the same problem (except the pontoon guys.)<br /><br />All agreed, get a little speed, trim it WAY up and try to coast through. When you get stuck, give it a little power to get going again.<br /><br />Everybody have a good, fun and safe Independence Day weekend.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: running through silt in channel

If you are looking for people to tell you this is OK....talk to your harbormaster. For any of us that know about or work on boats, this is not OK.<br />I am in the same situation, and while the people at the marina say this is fine......just bear with us, we will dredge and solve this.....you are tearing your boat up. Get out of this situation or it will cost you serious money.

 

[tommays]

Re: running through silt in channel

a used 4 to 6 hp jonny/rude will get you in and out and the cost is a drop in the bucket compared to the damage that doing that every time you use the boat is going to do<br /><br />kicking up some sand and silt is a lot different than diging a channel with you drive<br /><br />with all the permits you need now it could take years to get the place dreged<br /><br />tommays

 

[mikebc]

Re: running through silt in channel

How about a electric trolling motor?? Cheap, no gas, light, and should save the wear & tear. Would it have enough power?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: running through silt in channel

This is a no brainer. If the boat will float, an electric troll or kicker is needed. And off to the side just above or even with the hull (it does not need to be below the hull either, your not on plane, just below the water line). If not, ruin the joints (cost of a kicker), plan on a destroyed impeller, thermostat clogged in crap, a overheated motor with silt/junk/crap clogging everything........just a thought

 

[Scaaty]

Re: running through silt in channel

Originally posted by tommays:<br />with all the permits you need now it could take years to get the place dredged

Ha..... the crap involved JUST IN STARTING the PROCESS for permitting would take years. I think if a tree fell across I-5 here on the left coast, blocking ALL traffic, and there was a 3 toed cross eyed West Nile virus mosquito in it, well, you would just have to figure a way around. And do NOT buy shoreline in Puget Sound, not if you don't want to get (not free-$$$$) a permit to pee on your own bush anyway. Latest is a plea to tear down concrete bulkheads, and replace with rocks, so the salmon have a place to ............don't get me started

 

[goingboeing737]

Re: running through silt in channel

I think I might just push it out to deeper water, or try and pull it from the bowline while standing on the dock.<br /><br />I like the idea of a trolling motor, but don't know how or where I could mount one that would not be totally in the way when not in use.