Kiwiboyd's Mercury Bolts fail (initial assessment)

[ncp]

I didn't see anyone else post this:
https://youtu.be/42a5ZX3d5FU

He loses one engine on one of his 10m ribs.

[Bigtalljv]

I’ll have to watch that with sound. I’m not sure cutting it loose is the answer I’d choose.

It may not be worth much after what happened to it but it has to be worth less on the bottom of the ocean.

[RichardinNZ]

Good reason to have two outboards?

[two stroke mick]

Saw that video last night and was surprised that there were only four bolt's holding such a large engine. I think he had little choice but cut that engine free. I think that he would be charged a lot of money for a tow back to shore. Nice rib bright to a standstill "all for the want of a horse shoe nail" . How many here actually check engine mounting bolts after the engine was put in place?.
I know the rib was traveling fast but the sea conditions were good for that speed.

Tsm

[GuyC]

Having been in a similar'ish situation when a yacht I was on was dismasted we faced the question of cut it loose or try and get it back on board. We were concerned that the remains were going to damage the hull and I suspect he may have been in the same predicament or it could have damaged the other engine.

For him, getting it back on board wasn't really an option as it probably weighs 300kg.

Watching the video the only thing I'd have done differently would have been to put a rope on it before cutting it loose. You could then have suspended it just below the boat and out of harms way whilst you pondered your options.

If the water was shallow enough, you could buoy it so it would have been easy to retrieve or tow it into shallower water before buoying it. You'd need a lot of fenders to make it float so that wouldn't really be an option.

From my mast incident, having a bucket in which to put split pins, washers, nuts and anything else you've removed to set the thing free is useful if only to prevent them from disappearing into the bilges.

[Bigtalljv]

The other side of the coin is once that engine ingested water at supercharged velocities it hydro locked and probably blew everything engine block related to pretzels. It may very well just be a boat anchor now.

And I will be checking my mounting bolts the next time I work on the boat.

Jason

[gpsguru]

I think that the video clearly shows the professionalism of the skipper .......... he was in control of the whole situation with no panic and knew exactly what he was going to do ...........


Apart from that ........ stainless bolts aren't exactly grade 9.9 HT .... Hmmm, use bigger bolts !

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

And I will be checking my mounting bolts the next time I work on the boat.

Too right! Of the three bolts left none had nuts on them. Looks like dodgy rigging to me. I bet they use nylocs as lock nuts next time!

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by gpsguru

I think that the video clearly shows the professionalism of the skipper .......... he was in control of the whole situation with no panic and knew exactly what he was going to do ...........


Apart from that ........ stainless bolts aren't exactly grade 9.9 HT .... Hmmm, use bigger bolts !

+1...handled the situation well....(would have been more impressed if he'd been wearing a life jacket)

[two stroke mick]

The loss of a thirty thousand dollar engine would make me cry

[Pikey Dave]

Yup, the skipper handled it well. He’d no option but to ditch the engine imo, otherwise it would have caused more damage. The annoying terwat doing the camera commentary would have followed it too.
Hopefully the insurance will cover it.

[spartacus]

I've got nowt to add other than the inane commentary, sorry he'd be over the side within 5 mins.

Sorry, I couldn't ditch a $25k motor, whack a rope on it, and head for shore, or at least put a bouy on it.

Only thing I'd add is the Miami Vice intro. Testosterone fuelled, too close to other boats, nipper riding shotgun, skipper not wearing PFD.

[willk]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Only thing I'd add is the Miami Vice intro. Testosterone fuelled, too close to other boats, nipper riding shotgun, skipper not wearing PFD.

Running home late with the nav lights on after an "international adventure"...

..there's always a soundtrack in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24bNoQOnKHI

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by willk

Running home late with the nav lights on after an "international adventure"...

..there's always a soundtrack in my head.:

I had this originally on cassette! Michael Mann... classic intro.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjXPY9jOx8

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by spartacus

I've got nowt to add other than the inane commentary, sorry he'd be over the side within 5 mins.

Sorry, I couldn't ditch a $25k motor, whack a rope on it, and head for shore, or at least put a bouy on it.

Only thing I'd add is the Miami Vice intro. Testosterone fuelled, too close to other boats, nipper riding shotgun, skipper not wearing PFD.

I'd guess it's probably more like 5k worth of scrap and parts if it was going full chat when it took a dive. Maybe tie his mate to it before cutting loose.

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Sorry, I couldn't ditch a $25k motor, whack a rope on it, and head for shore, or at least put a bouy on it.

Cool-hand-Luke skipper said the most environmentally friendly thing was to ditch the motor and they didn't need to mark it with a buoy as they had GPS coordinates. Would love to see a follow up video of them retrieving it, they said they were going back for it.

How fast was it capable of going?

Here's another at speed engine loss:
https://youtu.be/4CjCFqXGwpc
And the retrieval:
https://youtu.be/nUNGs2vMSH4
The engine spent the following day in the workshop and was good to go, no lasting harm done.

[Ferryman]

A kill switch would be good - with his kid and video boy disappearing into the distance at 55 knots while he’s treading water...........

[Ferryman]

Music wise, I was thinking of the Benny Hill theme.

Structural or equipment failures do happen but this engine fell off because it wasn’t bolted on properly, it hadn’t taken much of a pounding just very tragic engineering standards.

[Ferryman]

Sorry, possibly a bit too adamant there

[willk]

Originally Posted by Ferryman

Sorry, possibly a bit too adamant there

Maybe another flat white and a quick walk in the garden!