We updated our Design Chart to Prevent Outboard Motors From Entering / Flipping Into The Boat After Striking Submerged Objects today (3 February 2021).

Flip In Design Chart

Primary additions include:

1. Auto detection of floating or submerged hazards using sonar, radar, infrared, fish finders, depth finders, lasers, computer vision and other technologies combined with the potential to automatically take evasive action such as raising the drive, tilting the drive, raising the stern using trim tabs, slowing the boat, killing the engine, and steering the boat
2. Predicting imminent impact based upon previous impacts in the area and/or gps location vs nautical chart depth readings
3. Counting impacts and their severity to determine amount of life remaining in the outboard motor and to gather data for identifying hazardous areas

Rex Chambers’ Mercury Marine outboard broken swivel plate