Want to be a Millionaire?

[Woody]

Is it ever ok to leave the boat in gear, engines running, while no one is aboard not even the Captain. Like the TV show I think I know the answer but would like to poll the audience.

 

[Hampton]

Are the engines running? If so, no, not ever.

 

[Woody]

Yes the engines are running.

 

[1stSeaRay]

Is there some theoretical situation where this might be considered appropriate?

 

[mwph]

I was thinking this was a trick question of some sort so I was going to be a smart a$$ & answer........YES-but only if while under power the entire boat burst into flames.

 

[Sea Gull]

I have no idea why you are asking the question, but here is my scenario:

On occasion I find myself single handing the boat. Maybe to hop over to the fuel dock or for winter haul-out.

Sea Gull II is equipped with a wireless remote control for the main engine shifters plus the bow thruster. My home dock is a T-end of a flating dock. Docking single-handed means brining the boat near by and parallel to the slip then stopping. I then hop down into the cockpit with my wireless remote and where I have a clear view of the starboard side of the boat. I then walk the boat to starboard using shifters until I am against the floating finger and stop. I step off and attach the after spring, reverse the starboard engine and attach the bow line, then forward spring and finally the stern line.

Remember, this is a big, heavy boat. It stays where you put it, but you also cannot easily push it or pull it around the dock to secure lines. Instead I rely on my wireless remote - all the while bumping in and out of gear as necessary to secure the lines.

So yes, my boat goes in and out of gear many times when no one is aboard.

 

[Sea Gull]

OK, I would NOT do what Scott does.

 

[K-9]

Likely do again...:wow:

like Scott did...did.

Like I said, I was not proud of it, didn't make a habit of it, did it in the heat of the moment....I did not have sexual relations with that ....oopps wrong copp out.

 

[skibum]

Never.

I do put the shifter in gear with the engine off if I am docked and have the drive up in the trailer position. I am amazed that some marinas can't tell you how deep their transient slips are at low tide. A buddy of mine at my marina bent up a prop pretty good at a transient slip a couple of years ago because the tide dropped him onto a rock in the middle of the night. So if I don't get an absolute "you've got over 3 feet of water at low tide", I put the drive all the way up, flip the kill switch, and put it in gear. I have to defeat 2 interlocks before I can start the engine. By then, I will have remembered to put the drive back down (I hope).

I only leave the engine running with no one on the boat when I dock by myself so I can hop back on board and nudge her back into position if I need to. It makes me nervous as hell because as we all know, stupid stuff happens. It would be just my luck that I would be the guy who discovers that a BIII can jump into gear all by itself...

 

[tdappleman]

I've done it once - coming into a dock with a lot of cross wind. I put out fenders, got a rear line secured and used the engine to keep me against the dock so I could put a front line on. Not something I felt comfortable really doing, but I didn't get off the boat until I knew the back line was secured and the fenders were keeping me off the dock. The engine only need to be at idle in gear to hold it.

 

[K-9]

:smt043we have done MANY bonehead moves without thinking and this is right up there with leaving a car in gear and who hasn't done that??:lol:

No, I'm retired from trailer boats, aside from my whaler.

Besides, what's the dealyo here. At least I am man enough to fess up to my bonehead moves, surely you've made some not so bright decisions in your life too. Grow some cojonies and bear your soul.

 

[Wayne's World]

When i'm tied at my slip, I leave them running in gear for about 1/2hr to blow the silt out of my slip. I'll go have afew beers with my marina buddies then come back to shut her down all is fine.:smt001

 

[Tonka Boater]

If you have DTS and you are in "Throttle Only" mode then I don't see a problem with leaving it in gear while nobody is on the boat. You really need to make a conscious effort to get out of Throttle Only, it would be a fluke if it popped out accidentally.

On a cold morning or two I have started the engine and put it in Throttle Only, tapped it one or two notches into gear and let it warm up while I untied fenders, secured stuff on the dock, etc.
.

 

[K-9]

:smt038 good reason and when swiming/diving ( engine can not be started by hitting 1 switch,safer off position then just turning key,,kids do not know better):thumbsup:

Never.

I do put the shifter in gear with the engine off if I am docked and have the drive up in the trailer position. I am amazed that some marinas can't tell you how deep their transient slips are at low tide. A buddy of mine at my marina bent up a prop pretty good at a transient slip a couple of years ago because the tide dropped him onto a rock in the middle of the night. So if I don't get an absolute "you've got over 3 feet of water at low tide", I put the drive all the way up, flip the kill switch, and put it in gear. I have to defeat 2 interlocks before I can start the engine. By then, I will have remembered to put the drive back down (I hope).

I only leave the engine running with no one on the boat when I dock by myself so I can hop back on board and nudge her back into position if I need to. It makes me nervous as hell because as we all know, stupid stuff happens. It would be just my luck that I would be the guy who discovers that a BIII can jump into gear all by itself...

 

[Nacho Boat]

OK, I'll fess up. When I used to trailer my 280DA, I had a bunk trailer. Often, I was alone while loading the boat (and unloading it for that mattter), and I was not strong enough to winch the boat up at some of the steeper ramps. (actually, the winch was the problem) Additionally, the force being applied to the bow ring, was at risk for either damaging the ring, or the winch strap.

So my solution, right or wrong, was to power on to the trailer, getting the boat firmly set, and then using a quarter throttle to assist me in winching the boat up the rest of the way. This was not my typical loading technique, I think I only did it a couple times in my lifetime. But when you are by yourself and don't feel like spending the night at a deserted marina, what's a poor boy to do?

Scott - I will give you credit for "fessing up" - and I won't throw any rocks either. I probably would have done the same thing in your situation.

Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do, even when you know better.:huh:

Still doesn't make it right.......

 

[Woody]

If you have DTS and you are in "Throttle Only" mode then I don't see a problem with leaving it in gear while nobody is on the boat. You really need to make a conscious effort to get out of Throttle Only, it would be a fluke if it popped out accidentally.

On a cold morning or two I have started the engine and put it in Throttle Only, tapped it one or two notches into gear and let it warm up while I untied fenders, secured stuff on the dock, etc.
.

You're not really in gear(props turning) when you do this. You're just increasing engine rpm aren't you?

 

[Tonka Boater]

You're not really in gear(props turning) when you do this. You're just increasing engine rpm aren't you?

If "in gear" means the props are spinning then, no, I'm not in gear. In the Throttle Only mode I can push the throttle forward or reverse (in gear) and increase RPM's without spinning the props. It just puts the sterndrive in neutral -- not the engine.
.

 

[Nehalennia]

OK, I'll fess up. When I used to trailer my 280DA, I had a bunk trailer. Often, I was alone while loading the boat (and unloading it for that mattter), and I was not strong enough to winch the boat up at some of the steeper ramps. (actually, the winch was the problem) Additionally, the force being applied to the bow ring, was at risk for either damaging the ring, or the winch strap.

So my solution, right or wrong, was to power on to the trailer, getting the boat firmly set, and then using a quarter throttle to assist me in winching the boat up the rest of the way. This was not my typical loading technique, I think I only did it a couple times in my lifetime. But when you are by yourself and don't feel like spending the night at a deserted marina, what's a poor boy to do?

OK, I would NOT do what Scott does.

I've done similar and will do it again. It's only when I'm hauling the boat out on the trailer and I already have the boat at the eye, so I'm not in a position to be cranking and have the boat pinch me. The "Glide King" bunks on my trailer are so slick that if I don't keep some power on (while I'm alone) the boat slides off. This makes it easy for me to power up, leave a little throttle on just to hold it, then climb off the boat, clip on the eye hook, tighten, then climb back aboard, shift to neutral, turn off the engine, tilt the drive and then get off the boat and drive away. I don't think there is any danger.

 

[sbw1]

Is there some theoretical situation where this might be considered appropriate?

I leave both mains in gear when not on the boat and when on the boat and it's not running. You never know when 6 year old tripplets might be tempted to turn the keys, or find the keys in the "secret spot" and try to fire up the engines.

 

[Presentation]

Is there some theoretical situation where this might be considered appropriate?

Let’s say the boat is securely tied to the dock and Jenifer Aniston comes strolling down the pier and says “I want to be ravaged in bed by someone who is bad. You can be the one if you prove to me that you are bad by starting your boat, putting it in gear then jumping off the boat onto the pier. If you do this you can then jump back on the boat, take it out of gear, shut it down, take me into the cabin and have your way with me.”

It could happen.