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Archive for log strike

Monitoring outboard log strikes: Yamaha Patent Application

Yamaha’s U.S. patent application, “Collision Information Providing System, Collision Judging System, and Marine Vessel” was published October 12, 2023. Yamaha’s system classifies and monitors three different kinds of collisions. 1. Outboard motor / Marine drive collisions 2. Propeller collisions 3. Vessel collisions These types of collisions are monitored. They are classified. Their intensity is rated. […]

FLIR receives Virtual Propeller Guard Patent

FLIR was awarded U.S. Patent 10,931,934 for Watercraft Thermal Monitoring System and Methods on 23 February 2021. This patent teaches the use of one or more imaging modules on the vessel scanning one of more areas around the vessel using thermal or non thermal imaging to detect people, debris, or docks in the water near […]

OSCAR detects floating debris: avoid log strikes

The origins of OSCAR, a collision avoidance system for boats from Austria, unfolded when Raphael Biancale, a European automotive engineer and founder of the BSB Group, was returning from a 6 month sailing trip in 2013. He searched for ways a sailor could safely navigate at night. His work on intelligent systems for automobiles led […]

Log strike impact mapping / charting invention

Our Log strike impact mapping / charting invention disclosure below was posted on 2 March 2019. We will make no changes to the text below the line following this paragraph except to correct misspellings, punctuation, and to update html/computer codes and links. Any updates to the invention will be posted below the invention disclosure. Log […]

Designing a Log Strike Test Stand to Verify Durability of Outboard Motor Prototypes

We have previously written extensively on log strike testing, the variables involved, and more specifically on trying to prevent outboard motors from breaking off and entering boats after striking floating or submerged objects. This installment focuses purely on durability testing of prototype outboards. It does NOT address the issue of outboard motors breaking off and […]

Outboard Motor Log Strike Mode by Speed and Resistance to Impact Chart

When outboard motors strike submerged objects they can break off and flip into the boat as seen in our lists of outboard motors breaking off and flipping into boats and large outboard motors breaking off and flipping into bass boats. We previously posted information on several existing and proposed solutions, including The Leash, a vectran […]

Bass boat outboard motors should be fail-safe impact tested

Most major outboard manufacturers conduct a log strike test on new outboard models to prove durability. Manufacturers either test them on the water by actually running over a log of a given type, diameter, and length, or on a test stand they think simulates on water testing. These impact tests are typically conducted at a […]

Mercury 250 Pro XS Outboard Powers 2016 Bassmaster Classic Winner

We were privileged to attend the 2016 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake with the weigh-ins in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 4-6, 2016. Edwin Evers, a local professional bass fisherman came from behind on day 3 to win the tournament. We just noticed Mercury issued a press release back on 8 March 2016 about the Evers […]

New Category – Outboard Motor Broke Off & Flipped Into Boat

Numerous previous posts concerned outboard motors striking submerged objects, breaking off, and flipping into boats, preventing or mitigating those accidents, log strike systems, accidents and legal trials involving such accidents and related topics. We will now be covering this topic in this category of the PropellerSafety blog. If anyone wonders why we are covering these […]

Modeling Boat Motor Log Strikes – A Senior Design Project

The boating industry has long been aware that marine drives can strike submerged or floating obstacles. In the early days they conducted on water log strike tests. In more recent times, some have moved to dry land impact tests (log strike test stands), and even considered virtual log strike tests (computer simulated log strike tests). […]