Saving Old Seagulls

Hi what do I use as a lanyard for m engine??? I have a 40+ and a century ??

I just use a bit of rope around under the crankcase. Something more sexy would be nice though. It will be interesting to see what others use.

I admit i don't use one, but i do check the thumbscrews for security now and again.

livewire wrote:I admit i don't use one, but i do check the thumbscrews for security now and again.

Three feet of thin rope has saved me on one trip.

All is going well then you do a sharp turn to avoid a crab pot float, engine jumps off the transom.

Pull the rope, get the engine back on the transom.

Drain out the seawater, give it a few pulls with the sparkplug out, replace plug and it started.

Continue on trip, lesson learnt.

H-A

Years back I went on a trolling trip for trout on Lake Taupo with my Dad. We rocketed off on the main motor (45Hp Cresent, nice motor!), got to where we were going and killed the main motor in preperation for some trolling with a Silver Century (clutched, long range tank, bow tie prop). Dad flipped the 'Gull down and it promptly disappeared over the side. Sometime over night, some little #@&%er had removed the pivot pin, in this case a long stainless bolt. I nearly brained Pop hurling the anchor after it. Happily it was clearly visable 20 or so feet down resting comfortably on a weed bank. Not so happily it was august and the lake was the temperature of liquid nitrogen. With a curse I have never heard my dad use before or since, he stripped to his kecks and went after it. Line attached, it was hauled back in and whisked off to a mate of his who owned a garage locally, carb strip and much compressed air it was back in action. Lesson learned. Since then ALL removable motors have a lanyard (that hasn't been needed. Yet.)

My pram dinghy has an eye bolt I added on the transom as part of system of attaching it to the back of the camper. This makes a dandy place to fix the lanyard to.

A couple of weeks ago my son ( 42) and I went on a fishing trip to a private hot spot a few miles away.
On starting the magnificent 100 for the return trip the blasted thing fell off the back.
The son who knew of my love of this particular motor immediately leapt overboard and plunged deep underwater but to no avail.
When he surfaced again on his 2nd dive I gave him the option of finding it or not coming back on board.
I figured it would motivate him to greater effort.
I was right in that but made a poor judgement on his swimming ability.
At least if I can retrieve the 100 I'll be able to restore it and keep it as a memorial in his name.

Sorry for your sad loss Grumpy, a good 100 is hard to replace.

Should you need another son, I'm told there are web sites where you can rent them.

So a thin bit of rope under the crank Case and onto the back of the boat!!!????

Grumpy wrote:A couple of weeks ago my son ( 42) and I went on a fishing trip to a private hot spot a few miles away.
On starting the magnificent 100 for the return trip the blasted thing fell off the back.
The son who knew of my love of this particular motor immediately leapt overboard and plunged deep underwater but to no avail.
When he surfaced again on his 2nd dive I gave him the option of finding it or not coming back on board.
I figured it would motivate him to greater effort.
I was right in that but made a poor judgement on his swimming ability.
At least if I can retrieve the 100 I'll be able to restore it and keep it as a memorial in his name.

Did this happen? Wow. To lose someone close to you like that. May you be comforted in your loss of a son.

Tombigdong wrote:So a thin bit of rope under the crank Case and onto the back of the boat!!!????

Pretty much. A piece of spare line that isn't rotted out & which is as thick as your starting rope will do nicely. It really doesn't matter what, just something handy. I use 1/4" double braid halyard line because it was lying around, and it's overkill for the job. Something long enough, after all knots are tied off, that the engine can be lifted off the transom and into the boat (center of it's weight at least) and vice versa for reinstalling same if you should ever have to do repairs at sea. ~2 1/2 ft. or ~75cm. would probably be fine.

2 or 3 half-hitches or a bowline around the neck below the power head, and a bowline to anything on the boat that can support the motor's weight. Simpler than it sounds.

atoyot wrote:as thick as your starting rope will do nicely.

Mine is the same thickness as the starter rope, If I loose the starter rope, then I can use the lanyard to start the engine.

H-A

Neat idea HA. I use a skanky piece of blue nylon rope long enough to be able to disconnect from the transom bracket. And drag onboard if necessary stops that thought of losing your pride and joy to Davy Jones locker.