Close call this weekend

luvinlife · May 2018

So on Memorial Day the admiral and I were prepped for our first run of the season on the 270. Put the boat in forward and slowly pulled out of my slip. Hit reverse the maneuver out of the marina but it stayed in forward. Since I was heading towards the dock across from me I put it in neatral and gave it a burst in reverse. NO. It just lurched forward right into the dock across from me. Hard. Thank god those folks were out fishing. Didn’t hit another boat and nobody hurt but it could have been TEALKY BAD. Looks like no gel coat damage just a few scrapes from the wood that should buff out. So we had the boat towed across to my slip, swallowed my pride and called my mechanic. He pulled and serviced the outdrive in the fall. His first reaction was “I hope I didn’t forget the cotter pin on the shifter cable”. He will credit me the cost to haul and repair if that’s the case. The marina is pulling us today and I will know soon. Fingers crossed

skennelly · May 2018

Yikes sounds a bit scary. Good luck.

aero3113 · May 2018

WoW, could’ve been a lot worse. Glad you guys are ok.

LaRea · May 2018

Been there done that. Twice! Very disorienting and scary. Well, not as scary the second time, because I knew what to do.

The first time, it was the cable inside the engine room. Have them check the cable before hauling. Maybe you don't need to come out.

zaverin1 · May 2018

Same here
after a drive service my cable came apart in the engine room.
probably after few trips
now I always check the jam nuts and always start the boat to check the f and r on blocks

Dream_Inn · May 2018

Yes, I think sooner or later we've all been thru it. I had one drive stuck in reverse when I backed out of my slip. I ended up hitting a piling between two boats down from my slip with my swim platform.

Good thing you didn't have any more damage!

Handymans342 · May 2018

Let us know what the problem was

zaverin1 · May 2018

Usually it’s eiter the lower cable
main at the engine or on newer boats the shift box.

zaverin1 · May 2018

In my case it was a single engine boat and when I went into reverse it got stuck in reverse.
When I throttled up to stop my boat and shift into forward to dock It had way to much momentum. This caused me to slam into a dock behind me without any serious damage to my boat or the dock lol

MarkB · May 2018

Wow, it could've been a lot worse!

reneechris14 · May 2018

Captain Ron said if it going to happen it will happen out there. Stuff like this always puts you in panic mode (oh crap what do i do now?) Glad to hear everything worked out ok.

luvinlife · May 2018

Boat has been hauled out and the marina mechanic ($) is looking at it now. I will let you know the outcome.

Stodge · May 2018

Hopefully it's his ooops and you're back in the water without a big dent in your wallet.

luvinlife · May 2018

I hope so too. I just paid to have the boat put in the water and I have to pay to have it hauled again for repairs less than a week later

luvinlife · June 2018

It is my lucky day! The cotter pin was not the issue, the retaining clip that anchors the cable to the transom was loose. Quick fix and back in my slip. Didn't get the bill yet though.