rvitek
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- March 12, 2002
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Wauconda, IL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2001 XLT 5.0
It's a funny story, stick with me 
We’ve had this boat (our FIRST boat) for about a month and a half now, had her out on the water about 10 times.
Our trim and tilt went out on our 17’ Bayliner that’s slipped at a local marina. Well, the problem is, our marina doesn’t have a ramp, and the closest ramp is about a ½ mile away. Just so happens that same marina with the ramp is also the marina that’s going to do the service for us on the boat.
Ok, the boat’s motor is probably at about a 75 degree angle from the transom, water is just over the prop and intake holes. So, my wife and I undock her, and paddle her out into open water.
It’s 94 degrees outside with about an 80% humidity rate.
We both sit at the very stern of the boat to keep the back end in the water more (and hence, have the prop move more water). So here we are, sitting way back going at about a 3mph clip (1700rpms). I can still reach the steering wheel so we’re all set. Then I noticed we’re getting awfully close to shore, we’re going in that direction. I spin the steering wheel back and forth… “What the heck?!” I look back, and my steering cable broke! I kill the motor back to neutral and we frantically paddle it out a bit from shore (lol, motor’s up high enough, I won’t have to worry about prop damage!). Ok, back in gear, going at a nice 3mpg, and now I’m manually steering the boat by physically turning the outboard with my hands.
We get her docked at the service slip, no problems – a nice experience, but no problems!
We get everything out, and get ready to go. My wife’s car is parked at the service station, and my car is at our marina, so the plan is to jump in her car, drop me off at my car, and we’re home!
“Hey wife, where’s your keys?”
“Uhh…”
Lol – what a “fun” night!
Ry.
We’ve had this boat (our FIRST boat) for about a month and a half now, had her out on the water about 10 times.
Our trim and tilt went out on our 17’ Bayliner that’s slipped at a local marina. Well, the problem is, our marina doesn’t have a ramp, and the closest ramp is about a ½ mile away. Just so happens that same marina with the ramp is also the marina that’s going to do the service for us on the boat.
Ok, the boat’s motor is probably at about a 75 degree angle from the transom, water is just over the prop and intake holes. So, my wife and I undock her, and paddle her out into open water.
It’s 94 degrees outside with about an 80% humidity rate.
We both sit at the very stern of the boat to keep the back end in the water more (and hence, have the prop move more water). So here we are, sitting way back going at about a 3mph clip (1700rpms). I can still reach the steering wheel so we’re all set. Then I noticed we’re getting awfully close to shore, we’re going in that direction. I spin the steering wheel back and forth… “What the heck?!” I look back, and my steering cable broke! I kill the motor back to neutral and we frantically paddle it out a bit from shore (lol, motor’s up high enough, I won’t have to worry about prop damage!). Ok, back in gear, going at a nice 3mpg, and now I’m manually steering the boat by physically turning the outboard with my hands.
We get her docked at the service slip, no problems – a nice experience, but no problems!
We get everything out, and get ready to go. My wife’s car is parked at the service station, and my car is at our marina, so the plan is to jump in her car, drop me off at my car, and we’re home!
“Hey wife, where’s your keys?”
“Uhh…”
Lol – what a “fun” night!
Ry.
