PropellerSafety.com

Outboard Flipped Into Boat – Page 3

Large Outboard Motor flipped into boat list updated

We updated our list of large outboard motors breaking off and flipping into boats on 7 October 2018 and are posting it today. We continue to see example after example of large outboard motors breaking off and flipping into boats. We encourage the boating industry to read our list of ways to prevent them. Outboard […]

“Preventing Outboards from Flipping into Boats” updated

The third edition of our paper, Preventing Outboard Motors From Flipping Into Boats was published online today, 25 July 2018. It has been about 3.5 years since we last updated the paper. Many things have happened since then. Several new methods and technologies have been added to the list. The 3rd edition covers many new […]

FLIR files patent for submerged object avoidance system

In June 2017 FLIR Systems, well known for recreational boating navigational and infrared products, filed U.S. Patent Application 2017/0158297 for “Watercraft Protection Systems and Methods”. FLIR’s patent application describes the use of sensors (including depth sensors and boat speed sensors) interfaced with existing trim tabs, trim and tilt systems, jack plates, and potentially new vertical […]

Mercury patented outboard motor tether in 1969

With all the chatter about The Leash we thought we would point out the first commercially available outboard tether for larger outboards was invented and sold by Mercury Marine. Mercury’s efforts preceded The Leash by nearly 50 years. This post is best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer. This post in no way belittles […]

Mercury Marine Aluminum Alloy patents & propeller safety

As noted before, outboard motor swivel brackets take tremendous loads during a collisions with submerged objects. On occasion swivel brackets fail, sometimes allowing the outboard motor to break off and flip into the boat with the engine still running and the propeller turning a few thousand RPM. Driveshaft housings (the lower leg of the outboard) […]

Rex Chambers speaks on The Leash: video

Rex Chambers, well known professional bass angler and his fishing partner were injured 3 May 2014 on Wheeler Lake in Alabama when they struck a submerged log, the 250 horsepower Mercury outboard motor broke off, and flipped into the boat still under power. His fishing buddy was struck in the head by the skeg. Rex […]

Randy Howell runs The Leash: video

Randy Howell and The Leash recently posted a video of Randy explaining why he runs The Leash, a tether to prevent large outboard motors from breaking off and flipping into boats after striking submerged objects or when running in rough water. Several outboard motors have flipped into boats while the outboard motor is still under […]

Barhanovich case update 6 April 2018

The Barhanovich case resulted from a boat accident off Biloxi Mississippi in which a large Suzuki outboard motor allegedly struck dredge pipe, broke off, flipped into the boat and killed Mark Barhanovich on Sunday morning 16 September 2012. In our last update we updated the status of the Barhanovich case as of 5 November 2016. […]

The Leash receives U.S. Patent

We just noticed The Leash, a tether to prevent outboard motors from flipping into boats when striking submerged objects, received U.S Patent 9,771,136 back on 26 September 2017. Some of our work in this field was cited in the patent references as well. Roy John Grohler is listed as the inventor and the patent is […]

The Leash patent application was published by USPTO

The Leash, a tether for large outboard motors, entered the market in early 2016. They especially focus on preventing bass boat outboard motors from entering the boat after striking a floating, submerged, or fixed object. Their patent application was filed 22 December 2015 and published 18 months later on 22 June 2017 by the U.S. […]