Fast thinking saves boat after engine breaks away from pod
Spectacular engine pod failure leaves a boat stranded on Rottnest IslandPerth-based marine rescue services were called to urgently assist a seven-metre runabout off Rottnest Island at the weekend after the vessel’s outboard engine broke off its pod.
An image posted on Fremantle Sea Rescue's social media shows the disabled boat pulled up on the Thompson Bay beach with the 250hp Suzuki outboard engine, still attached to the boat via its engine controls, lying sideways in the water.
The boat appears to have had a pod extended from the boat’s transom to replace a sterndrive with an outboard engine. Images showing a large part of the rear of the pod missing, and splintered plywood with two large missing pieces where the engine was bolted on behind it.
“Luckily the quick action by a nearby boat was able to help the stricken vessel ashore stopping it from taking on more water,” a report of the incident posted on social media said.
“Upon arrival, [Fremantle Sea Rescue boat] Resolute’s crew deemed the major structural failure a job for a salvage operator.”
Rottnest Island is about 20km offshore from Fremantle.
Check your boat
Late last year the Tasmanian coroner warned of the dangers of weakened engine mounts after reporting on the death of four men who died likely as a result of an overpowered engine detaching from their 50-year-old boat.
The court’s investigation revealed the boat had been repowered with a 150hp outboard engine despite a maximum 115hp rating assigned to the boat when new. Given the age of the boat, it was not fitted with an Australian Builders Plate which would have clearly stated the maximum outboard engine weight and power rating it was built to handle.
The coroner also heard evidence that the plywood used to strengthen the transom of the boat had likely rotted, rendering it incapable of handling the performance of the outboard engine – more so given the hull’s propensity to chine walk at speed, a trait noticed by previous owners of the boat.
The boat was also equipped with too few life jackets for the number of people onboard, with one of those recovered only rated for a child.
How to check a transom:
- Raise the outboard engine right up and shake it from side to side, and up and down, looking for any telltale signs of flexing in the transom
- Trim the engine up to 45 degrees and push down on the prop. There should be no movement
- Tap the transom lightly with a hammer or the handle of a screwdriver and listen for any hollow spots, identified as a change in the sound that the tapping makes. Hollow spots sound duller than solid spots
- Check for cracks around where the outboard engine mounts onto the transom
- Do your research, visiting sites such as boatsales.com.au and Redbook.com.au to check if a newer-looking outboard engine is rated for the boat you're interested in
- Even if you think the boat is okay, have it professionally inspected
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
