Do not have a conclusive answer. My thinking is with the plug out the stern will sit down in the water - whether it covers the motor or not - I do not know.

Looking at the picture - wondering if there is anything you could rig against the stern, under the lower unit to off set some of the weight of the motor. Just give the stern more lift. Was eyeing that fender tied to the port side of the Dink. Maybe a couple of those.

Not even sure this concept is feasible.

How much surge are you expecting?

 

Second thought that comes to mind.

This is a very fast moving storm, would not expect us to be getting rain for a long time. How much rain, I am seeing forecasts that are not that huge of volume where we are north of you.

If you have a decent battery, put the plug in the dink, let the bilge pump kick in as the boat collects rain water. That solution would not last forever - but you could probably get a couple or few hours of the bilge pump running to keep a portion of the rainwater out. Maybe just enough. Battery is cheaper than a motor.

 

I think Mark is on track. Tie two of those fenders under the motor.

 

Or, just take the motor off...don't know how big the motor is, but I could NOT get my 40 Etec off of my 12' AB dink.

 

there is no bilge pump as of this moment

 

Post storm project - bilge pump is a good addition to a dink.

 

I do not have the physical ability to remove that motor

 

I didn't know about a 20 - I knew a 40 requires a chain lift!

 

It will float as long as the tubes are full of air. But I'd still take the motor off...

Edit - I see you say you can't get the motor off. She'll still float...

 

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN,

I believe the problem has been solved, and with the plug still out...

Tide should be going out, but is still coming in.....

 

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN,

I believe the problem has been solved, and with the plug still out...

View attachment 179243

View attachment 179245

View attachment 179247

Tide should be going out, but is still coming in.....

I mean...at least you're not in the process of winterizing the boat like a lot of us

 

Prepping time nearly over for Hurricane Helene.

In Punta Gorda, well outside the cone, however increasing surge/tides leads me to expect more rising water r=than forecast.

Dink WAS strapped to dock mounted PWC lift with plug removed.

Appears now that this may not be high enough for the surge.

Removed straps and crosstied to allow her to float ABOVE the lift

Tilted the 20 Hp Tohatsu outboard to gain height above waterline.

Currently the drain plug is OUT due to expected rain.

IS THERE ENOUGH LIFT WITH THE PLUG OUT TO KEEP THE MOTOR SAFELY OUT OF THE WATER

Motor is approx 100-120 lbs

PLEASE RESPOND ASAP - THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got very recent real world experience. 310 Inmar Aluminum RIB and a 2023 Tohatsu 20 on the transom. Two weekends ago we had a dock party, combined with a harbor cruise. Dropped the dinghy in the water for the day. I always leave the plug out while on the swimstep, but forgot all about it. Dinghy sat in the water with no plug for probably 6 hours. Didn't figure that out until the evening, when I went to put the dinghy back on the swimstep and noted it was now full of water. Held the motor up NO PROBLEM. Candidly, because I had left the cover on, I didn't even notice the problem until I went to hoist it onto the swimstep and the dinghy wouldn't budge--because it was now full of water. The tubes were not even fully inflated. In my opinion, you've got PLENTY of bouyancy to keep the engine out of the water.

 

I just noticed the two fenders. I certainly did not have those installed two weekends ago!

 

I can share personal experience with my AB tender. If you forget to put the plug in before lowering the swim platform - it is very noticeable. Didn't let it down far enough to see whether it would float - but - I noticed it.

 

One time I had mine fully in the water and if I recall, the crew boarded it for a trip. It floated just fine, but it didn't take me too long to realize that the bilge pump cycled longer then usual. I had zero concerns about the dink not being able to stay afloat, thanks to built-in bilge pump. Stuck the plug back in and we took off on our excursion. Mine is AB DLX11 with 40HP Yammy.

 

Can’t sink a dink as long as tubes are inflated. You should be fine.

 

Well? It's Friday morning at 7:20......After all the CSR brain power above .....Do tell how you made out?

 

water nearly surrounded house

canal water backed up through stormwater drains, fklooded street

another 12-18" and house would have flooded

dock underwater

dock electrical panels and outlets also underwater

gonna flush all electrical with the hose right now

dinghy crosstied but floated off the lift, half now on dock, half on lift

gonna fire up boat genny and lower dinghy lift, have help coming to get dink off the dock

lots of photos to come, but for now I'm in the thick of it

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN !

RWS

 

All great news. Thanks!

 

These canals were dredged in the early 1960's.

The water has on very, VERY few occasions touched the tops of the seawalls.

This event was unprecedented and the forecast was for 3' - 5' of surge.

I'm adept at spiderwebbing the boat in my 100' canal. Did it for CAT 4 Charley, Irma (10 meter Trojan International) and CAT 4 Ian (450 DA)

My dock pilings are on both sides, and are rather tight. For a surge event I simply flip the boat to the part of the dock that has pilings only on one side. and tie off with long lines to my own pilings and the neighbor's boat lift. This keeps the boat from being held tight to the pilings and I use fenderboards when necessary, as it doesn't take much surge to get the rubrail above the height of the pilings.

The dink has a single motor 110v PWC lift that manually swings onto the dock, and then back out over the water.

Long story short, the water level nearly surrounded the house as the storm water system worked in reverse; as the canals filled and overflowed, the seawater flowed through the drains and into the street, slowly working it's way into the swails and up the lawns and driveways.

It was nearly into the garage. Another 12" - 18" or so and it would have been in the house.

Here's some photos:

 

Whoooo Baby! Close!

 

Believe me, I was PUCKERED !

 

Helene was about 9" less surge than Ian. That made the difference