Do outboards have any give if you hit a stump?

[sh00ter]

Last year, I hit a submerged stump going probably 15-20mph and it did not break my trim system. I have since learned about breakaway jack plates and just wondered if the stock mercury trim on a newer outboard had any engineering to allow for some give in those situations? I can't recall but it seems like I had to trim back down, so maybe it did lift the motor from the impact. I was VERY impressed with the motor and the boat because you would have thought it was major damage based on the sound and feeling in the boat. It bent the skeg slightly but it was easy to straighten up.

 

[Perplexed]

Some years ago I hit a submerged rock going probably 20 mph, and the transom-mounted Johnson outboard popped up so high and so hard the top cover cracked on the deck in front of the motor. It ran roughly after that, but got me back to the boat ramp in limp mode. Cost several hundred bucks to replace the cover, prop, and IIRC the prop shaft.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Last year, I hit a submerged stump going probably 15-20mph and it did not break my trim system. I have since learned about breakaway jack plates and just wondered if the stock mercury trim on a newer outboard had any engineering to allow for some give in those situations? I can't recall but it seems like I hat to trim back down so maybe it did lift the motor? I was VERY impressed with the motor and the boat because you would have thought it was major damage based on the sound and feeling in the boat. It bent the skeg slightly but it was easy to straighten up.

What hp?

 

[sh00ter]

50hp 4-stroke, late model

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Yep it will kick up

 

[tyromeo55]

As a sideline comment. We have a 07 150 EFI Merc and found out that the prop is coupled to the output shaft via a sacrificial plastic coupler. You might check and see if it got cracked. Found out ours was damaged when a numb nuts buddy of mine was driving and thought he would slam it in reverse while going full tilt across the lake. Lucky the gearbox was not completely trash canned

 

[makeithappen]

So long as you don't have the motor locked in the down position, yes. I never lock my motor in the down position.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Oklahomabassin]

As a sideline comment. We have a 07 150 EFI Merc and found out that the prop is coupled to the output shaft via a sacrificial plastic coupler. You might check and see if it got cracked. Found out ours was damaged when a numb nuts buddy of mine was driving and thought he would slam it in reverse while going full tilt across the lake. Lucky the gearbox was not completely trash canned

The hub that gives away is usually found on the SS props for the higher hp motors like yours. His 50 hp probably has an aluminum prop, but is worth checking. I pull my prop to look for old fishing line at least once a year.

 

[harley128]

As a sideline comment. We have a 07 150 EFI Merc and found out that the prop is coupled to the output shaft via a sacrificial plastic coupler. You might check and see if it got cracked. Found out ours was damaged when a numb nuts buddy of mine was driving and thought he would slam it in reverse while going full tilt across the lake. Lucky the gearbox was not completely trash canned

That would be the last time numb nuts drove my boat!!

 

[MacFromOK]

Do outboards have any give if you hit a stump?

Apparently they can give ya some grief...

Luck.