Question - shallow water operation
 

"Who??? Me????" wrote in message
news:H9F0g.687497$084.173174@attbi_s22...
Thanks to everyone for all the great input!


I'll point out again (since someone else already did) that steering will
fall under the heading of "Is this steering wheel actually doing anything?"
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the level of unresponsiveness by
practicing in deeper water with nobody around.

Question - shallow water operation
 

Richard J Kinch wrote:
Danlw writes:


On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

Better have your u-joints checked often. That's why they have the trim
limit switch.


Isn't that the limit I mean?

It sounds like you are going past the trim range, into the tilt range,
if you are breaking the surface with the prop. This is VERY hard on the
u-joints.

Rob

Question - shallow water operation
 

DownTime wrote:

Who??? Me???? wrote:

I just bought a place with a dock on a creek that provides direct
access to
the river. The creek is wide, 700 feet or so, and the water level is
fairly
stable and doesn't drop below about 30" at the end of the dock. I am not
familiar with shallow water operation of a sterndrive motor, and I am
looking at purchasing a different boat with the sterndrive. The boat
I am
considering has a draft of 18" with the drive up, but a maximum draft
of 36"
with the drive down. How far can you safely trim up the outdrive at low
speed on a sterndrive? Does this sound like it can work or am I
barking up
the wrong tree?

All help greatly appreciated!

Tom

Given the parameters you provided, I would be more inclined to go with
an outboard. You should be able to raise it up a bit more than a stern
drive, and still maintain reasonable control and maneuverability.

And the use of a jack plate will allow increased control at the low
speeds, too...

Rob

Question - shallow water operation
 

trainfan1 writes:

Isn't that the limit I mean?

It sounds like you are going past the trim range, into the tilt range,
if you are breaking the surface with the prop. This is VERY hard on the
u-joints.

I see. The Alpha stern drive has two upper limits depending on the switch
applied. Nothing in my user's manual mentioned this being a problem for U-
joints.

Question - shallow water operation
 

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
...
Danlw writes:

On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

Better have your u-joints checked often. That's why they have the trim
limit switch.

Isn't that the limit I mean?

Not at the trailer position. The trim limit is the point at which you have
to use the trailer up switch. If you ever have a drive off, or see one in a
shop, look at what the full up angle does to the u-joints. It puts a
terrific strain on them to run above the trim limit. Have seen them blown
out, even at idle.
Dan