Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

[Billys Barge]

I hit a Sand/rock bar yesterday in my boat and broke the fins off my lower and also scraped the bottom of my boat really bad. The question I have is that when I got the boat up on the trailer and pulled the plug there was a ton of water on the bilge, way more than I have seen before, how do I check the hull for leaks? I can't see anything that should cause a leak by just visually checking but the bunks cover parts of the boat, So that could be covering up a hole. I am an hour and a half away from the nearest repair shop and dont want to haul it that far if its possible that the leak is somewhere else. Thanks. I added the pic of the drive for the heck of it.View attachment 164890

 

[cr2k]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

Fill it up with water (just below the starter) and look underneath for leaking water.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

I hit a Sand/rock bar yesterday in my boat and broke the fins off my lower and also scraped the bottom of my boat really bad. The question I have is that when I got the boat up on the trailer and pulled the plug there was a ton of water on the bilge, way more than I have seen before, how do I check the hull for leaks? I can't see anything that should cause a leak by just visually checking but the bunks cover parts of the boat, So that could be covering up a hole. I am an hour and a half away from the nearest repair shop and dont want to haul it that far if its possible that the leak is somewhere else. Thanks. I added the pic of the drive for the heck of it.View attachment 164890

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

Hi Billy, sorry to see your damage. That looks pretty bad, do you have insurance? If so maybe it's time to use it.

 

[Billys Barge]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

Whats the best way to jack the boat up off the bunks? I wanted to replace the bunks and thought that would be the easiest way. I filled it with water and ran the tongue jack all the way down and let it sit for a couple hours and couldnt see anything so I ran the jack all the way up and will check again tomorrow. The drive looks like its attached firmly still, I looked at the bellows the best I could and they looked ok. I do have insurance, luckily the insurance agent talked me into insuraning it for the full value instead of what I owed. I'll check back in tomorrow and let you know what I find, I might have to pull it down to the lake and put it on the water to see what I can find..... Thanks a bunch for your advise!!!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

The picture has me confused!
The Prop still looks fine.
How did you manage to break off BOTH sides of the Anti-Ventilation Plate and NOT ding the prop?
Was the motor stopped and you just bounced on the rocks?

 

[shaun77]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

That's what I was wondering?

 

[Billys Barge]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

I have been wondering the same thing, the prop has a noticeable bend in one blade but thats it. The exposed metal looks like a fresh break theres no sign that it was cracked previously. The best scenerio I can come up with is maybe the prop threw a rock up and hit the Anti ventilation plate, which also had a plastic hydrofoil bolted to it, not sure if that makes a difference. The motor was running, we were going really slow like 5 mph when we hit. Sun in my eyes or I would have probably seen it coming. One thing I should add is that I dont think it fell off right at impact, I raised the drive and I dont remember it being broke off but the boat floated back off the bar so I lowered the drive and pulled away from it then I started heading to the ramp and there was a noise and a bump and I think that was when it came off It make me think the bend in the prop might have happened then because the blade thats bent has a black scuff mark on it. I'm as confused as anybody about how this happened.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

.which also had a plastic hydrofoil bolted to it, not sure if that makes a difference... I'm as confused as anybody about how this happened.

Don't be confused. The hydrofoil's presence is why this damage happened.

I can tell that you don't know, but you really need to know what your insurance policy will pay on repairs to your boat. Your "full value" coverage" instead of "what you owe" may ONLY apply to a total loss. Boat policies can cover damage at ACV while still covering a Total Loss at an agreed value. Find out which you have.

If you have ACV coverage on repairs, you might not want to file a claim for the outdrive damage. A replacement, brand new lower unit from SEI is $900 right here on iboats. With a 3 year warranty that covers everything, including collisions. Or you could have that case repaired.

I suspect that the extra water in the bilge was a coincidence. Because the damage to the outdrive would not have caused any water to get in the boat. So unless you have a hole in the bottom of the boat, the water was in there for some other reason.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

...had a plastic hydrofoil bolted to it, not sure if that makes a difference...

That makes the Big Difference.
I was wondering why there was half a bolt hole remaining on the right side where a bolt hole need not be!
The Hydrofoil likely had the plate fatigued and the bump was the last straw.

When you get it fixed, look into Smart Tabs if needed, instead of a replacement hydrofoil.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

...

When you get it fixed, look into smart tabs if needed, instead of a replacement hydrofoil.:d

HUGE +1!!!!! Huge!

 

[Billys Barge]

Re: Slammed boat into rock/sand bar.

My buddy has the adjustable tabs on his boat and he loves them I havent been on his boat but he's a good source. I'll definetly plan on installing some tabs and NO more hydrofoils!!!