Ladder Hits Prop!!!! Major Disaster!!

While most of these comments are from people that have no clue on this particular boat. Basically the author of the post is running the boat beyond the limit switch on the trim - therefore partially in the trailer position. Which any dual prop 8'-6" beam boat with a ladder hanging off the back in a trailer or partial trailer position will most likely hit the ladder when cut hard to the port or starboard side. I personally would not run the drive in a partial trailer position - on any drive - too much stress on it.
 
There was a stupid lawsuit a few years back when the driver of a motor home put on cruise control, got up from the seat and went back to do something in the coach, well it crashed. he survived and because the owners manual did not state that you could not do that, the manufacturer lost and paid him and supplied a new vehicle. the owners manual now states you cannot do that. so, when do we as humans and you would hope responsible ones, take action for our own stupiity. We are so fast to blame others and make them pay...when its our own fault for not having any common sense
 
Sorry, but it's just stupid anyway for a boat to be designed so the ladder can be hit by the props. No excuse for that whatsoever. I would contact Sea Ray and ask for a new ladder, since it was because of their flawed design that the problem happened in the first place.

Other than that, yes make sure that you don't run with your outdrives too far up, although many many many times I have run the boat with the outdrives about 1/3 up at idle speed in shallow water, and of course I've never had any problems. I've also forgot the ladder in the down position a few times, but in our boat it's impossible for the outdrives to hit it. The extended swim platform is extended enough that they never project beyond the platform, regardless of position, and the deployed ladder sits *beyond* the platform and cannot swing back underneath it.

Many here think things like this would never happen to them, and yes, if you are careful and operate the boat correctly, things won't go wrong. However, we ALL forget something and screw something up at some point, and boat builders should help us out by not doing stupid things like putting the ladder in the path of the props if you forget to retrieve it and also forget to trim back down far enough. It can't be THAT hard for them to figure this out.

Oh, and also make sure you have a pro take a look at your props. I bet they have some damage, and even minor damage can affect performance.
 
The fact ur runing the boat with the props outdrive in trailer postion and the ladder is down....

Umm come now.... Next someones goingto want a anchor deployed light....

A fenders out light.....

How about ignition interlock to the seacocks?

Is there a lawyer in the house....

Rob
 
I think a "ladder down" indicator light is an EXCELLENT idea Rob. You should patent that before someone beats you to it.
 
While I admit that it was my fault that I left the ladder down and I was aware that the prop could come in contact with the ladder if in trailer position...it overlaps by many inchs, I still feel it is poor design.
I have owned over 20 boats over the years many makes and models,from 18' to 57'several Searays included and have never encounted this problem before.

I currently own a 2006 Crownline 250 cr aswell as the Searay with B3 and its leg cannot even come close to the ladder with the leg in any position.

The type of boating we do and where we do it requires that one often has to IDLE out from the beach where the sand shoals up with the leg sometimes all the way up. I and all my fellow boaties in Oz have been idling out with legs up(pardon the pun) for years without any problems with drives,gimball bearings or unijoints ever apart from normal wear and tear.

In shallow sand bar or beach situations indeed this is the very reason a stern drive is choses over say shaft drive. THe ability to tilt the leg up to idle into deeper water is an essential part of the mix.

Also with big tidal factors when you are anchored close to the beach on a falling tide throughout the day you sometimes will lift your leg as it gets closer to the bottom as the tide drops to save you from moving and interupting the flow of margeritas from the margarator!

Thanks again for all your thoughts...as I say imho Searay did not consider B3 when the located that ladder in that position.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Fenton

While I admit that it was my fault that I left the ladder down and I was aware that the prop could come in contact with the ladder if in trailer position...it overlaps by many inches, I still feel it is poor design.
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I agree with you completely. I bet you Sea Ray didn't think about this in the design matrix and someone has to let them know about it. There's no reason why any OEM attached on-board appendages should hit the prop in normal operating conditions. If I were you, I'd call up Sea Ray and make my case. It's clearly a design flaw and they will be more than happy to fix it. You didn't do anything that's prohibitive in any of the owners manuals, period!!!!
 
I think the owners manual for the drives states something about engaging the transmission in trailor position. ( not recc. ) This is one of the things I think the owners responsible for... Sorry just my opinion. ( now u know why the dash and every inch of the boat has a million warning stickers )

Rob
 
The older Sea Rays simply had a shorter ladder.
A little extra effort boarding, but never a worry about hitting the prop.
 
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