Insurance co statistics regarding the sinking of I/O's

REASONS WHY INBOARD/OUTBOARD POWERBOATS SINK

BoatU.S. Goes to the Insurance Claims Files for Answers

After publishing a recent study identifying the causes for accidental outboard powerboat sinkings, Seaworthy, recreational boating's damage avoidance magazine, has combed through the BoatU.S. insurance claims files to identify the reasons why inboard/outboard (I/O) powerboats sink. Interestingly, while outboard powerboats are similar in design to I/O's -- and often made by the same manufacturer -- the study found vastly different reasons why each accidentally sinks.

Outboard powerboats tend to sink at the dock due to poor cockpit designs that trap water, but an I/O's weakest link is the delicate connection between the inboard engine and the outdrive unit, called bellows.

"The use of bellows or boots -- pleated, flexible rubber membranes -- that run between the inboard engine and partially submerged outdrive to seal the transom where cables and shafts pass through have one weakness: a limited lifespan," said Seaworthy Editor Bob Adriance. He says that bellows should be inspected annually -- and more often in hot, sunny climates. "Any bellows that is over five years old is living on borrowed time," said Adriance.

He adds, "Many boats have more than one bellows (driveshaft, shift cable, exhaust, etc.) any one of which has the potential to sink the boat. And if one shows wear, they all should be replaced."

Here are the top reasons why I/O's sink:

At The Dock: #1 (44%): Leaking bellows. A surprising number were attributed the small shift cable bellows. #2 (23%): Failed below waterline fittings, hose clamps, and melted hoses as a result of overheating. #3 (15%): Failed above waterline fittings. Heavy rains overwhelm cockpit scuppers. #4 (11%): Poor docking arrangements: Boats or outdrives that snag on docks. #5 (6%): Uninstalled drainplug. #6 (1%): Miscellaneous such as a cracked engine block.

While Underway: #1 (36%): Struck a submerged object such as rock or logs. #2 (24%): Failed below waterline fittings. #3 (20%): Leaking bellows. #4 (12%): Swamping. #5 (8%): Miscellaneous.

Capt Jack R..

>Outboard powerboats tend to sink at the dock due to poor cockpit >designs that trap water....

..... are we talking cut-away transom here or ?

I don't think I've ever seen a outboard swamped at dockside after a heavy rain, but I've seen a few I/Os full to the brim over the years and not necessarily from rain either.

Although to give the article some credence, I did have my Ranger at the old marina a couple of years ago after the Contender was pulled for late season fishing. The Ranger has a cockpit drain system that lies towards the stern in the corners and has a ball/float system keeps water out and drains when there is excess water. After one rain storm, there was excess water in the cockpit as one of the ball/floats got stuck somehow, but other than a slight list, the boat didn't sink.

I can see Gene's point about open transoms with outboards. A couple of the salvage boats I've looked at over the years had open transoms which I imagine could accommodate swamping easier.