Motor won't push boat backwards?

[Lisa Woodburn]

Happy Holidays!I hope I'm not bombarding this website with stupid questions, but here's another one...My motor doesn't push the boat backwards when thrown in reverse while I'm on the water. It's an Evinrude 6hp. When I throw it in reverse it comes up out of the water for a second, then seems to kick back into neutral. (BTW - a friend checked it out with me this morning, to make sure it wasn't "operator error" - it wasn't Any ideas why this might be? I tested it on land, in big bucket of water, several weeks ago and it seemed to be pushing the water in reverse fine then. It also seemed to have worked OK before I bought the boat, but perhaps we just got lucky and drifted backwards that day....Thanks,Lisa

 

[Shawn Wheaton]

Going astern

Lisa, your boat's stern has much greater water resistance than the bow, it takes a lot of torqe to pull it thru the water. I use a 5 horse and it takes full throttle just to get it moving in reverse. You mentioned "throwing" your motor in reverse, are you putting it in reverse while the boat is still moving forward or with the engine operating above an idle? This can be like hitting a brick wall. Your motor should have some type of locking mechanism that prevents it from coming out of the water when put in reverse, check the lock to make sure it is engauged and that it isn't damaged. Throwing it in reverse above idle speed or while still making headway can cause the lock to fail. You didn't mention your motor's age, but some older Evenrudes have a lock the disengauges when put in forward so the motor can tip up if it hits something. If the spring comes off the mechanism it won't lock back up when put in reverse. The locking mechanisms vary greatly from model to model, so get a service manuel for your year and model, it will have diagrams of how the lock works. You can get a manuel from your local library, but if you buy one keep it on your boat, it will come in handy if problems occur away from the dock. Hope this helps. Shawn

 

[Dave]

Adjustments

Hi Lisa,I read Shawn's reply and can't really add any more to it except that there may be an adjustment for the locking mechanism and unless you are really proficient at mechanical fine tuning it's much safer to rely on a person who knows the outboard motor. Since your shop at the Marina is closed for Christmas, could you contact the previous owner and inquire about what they might have encountered ? and if they made any adjustements to the lock ?A 6hp evinrude or any 6hp outboard that is long shaft and operating properly should be able to reverse your course PROVIDED you aren't traveling at 5kph. or better! When shifting into reverse your boat should almost be at the slowest possible speed. Preferably almost dead in the water, because of the tremendous stress you are putting the motor under and the weight and resistance involved. It is not like a powerboat where horsepower always overcomes the resistance, weight and motion. I always put my motor into neutral first then shift into reverse at the lowest possible idling speed, thus allowing to motor and the boat to come to a complete stop before acelerating in reverse. It's far better to make another pass at the dock, beach or whatever then to try and make it come hell or high water on the first try.Being gentle will prolong the motor's running gear, your transom mounting bracket, and the hull. Not to mention your sanity LOL.Hope this helpsHappy Sailing DavePS Merry Christmas

 

[Lisa Woodburn]

Thanks...will look for the "lock"

Wow - responses on Christmas! Thanks & hope you're having/had a Merry one!I'll check into that lock on the engine. In response to your questions, I never put the motor into reverse when going forward anymore because it would be futile and I've had no need to. Trying it from floating at the dock in neutral, then full throttle in reverse just makes the boat float away from the dock (whichever way the water's moving) - no real movement. So far have made it back to the dock on the first attempt (with nobody getting wet!) every time in neutral. No reverse just makes it a bit more tedious to maneuver the boat off the dock and could be dangerous when it gets crowded by the ramps/docks.Thanks!Lisa

 

[Dave]

Locking mechansim

Hi Lisa,and Thanks, after reading your last note it would seem to me that the reverse gear or lock as we call it may not be engaging at all and if thats the case it may be damaged or just out of adjustment, or the clutch may need adjustment meaning it's not totaly disengaging upon shifting it into reverse. .Happy Sailing.Dave

 

[Lisa Woodburn]

Pliers !

In case anyone comes across the same problem....Just spoke with some guys at the lake who looked at my motor today. The locking mechanism is broken on my *&!$ motor - but they say pliers on it will work in a pinch! (Personally - I've authorized the sailboat shop to fix it for me for approx $100 when the part comes in -I'm not technically inclined, and don't want to worry about it anymore!!!)

 

[Guest]

Great !!!!!

Hi Lisa,Glad you found out what the remedy is and the cost. Not bad for replacing the lock.Happy SailingDave