Freaking newbie mistake. Damaged? Hope not

navychief

New Member
Apr 3, 2009
22
Leonardtown, MD
:smt021

I can't believe that I did this. I picked up my 240 Sun Deck today after having it commissioned for the coming summer fun. When I got it to its destination, I lowered the stern drive about a inch from the asphalt.

So what did I do next? I went and unhooked from my truck's hitch, and commenced to cranking the tongue off the hitchball. It wasn't till I was putting on the boat cover that I noticed the stern drive was digging into the asphalt! Needless to say, I went back (quite quickly!) to the tongue jack and lowered it to get the stern drive from supporting the weight of the boat's stern off the asphalt.

Has anyone ever done this? Should I be concerned about damage? The bottom of the stern drive seems to be ok, just a little scuffed up.
:smt013
 
You're fine - scuffing and everything is something we'll all experience - either from a trailering 'incident' or something while in the water. Check to make sure you don't have any cracks or anything and if it's just scuffs you're fine.
 
I hate to admit it but I have done it more than once. The outdrives are pretty tough.
 
Think of it as a battle scar! LOL. My boat was absolutely spotless from the previous owner who kept it in his personal boat house on a lift. It only took me a month to hit something and scratch mine. Now I will forever have my head on a pivot looking for stuff in the water!
Enjoy that new boat!!
 
I would never admit that I did it on a public forum. (Grin) Trust me you will be fine.

Now, when it comes time to put it back on the truck's hitch make sure you raise the outdrive before you start to crank up the tongue of the trailer. Don't ask how I know.
 
Ha that's nothing wait till you run aground the first time. I'll be sanding my skeg (that's the part you rubbed the ground with) and hittin it with some Merc. Primer and Merc. Phantom Black spray paint but mine does have a couple nicks in it that paint won't cover up.
 
You will have no problem. My last boat was a '95 330 sundancer with 7.4's and bravo III outdrives. Hammer down with full tanks and 6 people probably put 10 times the torque on the transom plates than your goof up did..No worries
 
Hey, not only did I lower the drive on my 1996 2452, I dragged it down my 300 ft long asphalt drive way... It took about 5 years before the scars disappeared on the driveway... No problem with the drive or the transom... I did lose the bottom of the skeg... wore it clean down to nothing...
 
Hey, not only did I lower the drive on my 1996 2452, I dragged it down my 300 ft long asphalt drive way... It took about 5 years before the scars disappeared on the driveway... No problem with the drive or the transom... I did lose the bottom of the skeg... wore it clean down to nothing...

Holy fish poo, batman! Now talk about putting yourself out there on the forum!:lol:

I've had it out and running the first time last Summer (bought it in August), late. In fact, I drug the skeg through a shallow area. Needless to say, part of the skeg needs some painting. I bought the Merc black and the clear, but not sure if the clear is necessary...

Thoughts?
 
Everyone I know has helped contribute to the slow destruction of the boat ramp by sacrificing some paint and metal.

Not me though...noooo.

















Yes I have, Im lying.
 
It is also wise to put the outdrive in the full up postion when pulling the trailer out of the water.:smt021 (Don't Ask - LOL) A little filing and some paint - all is well:smt038
 

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