I'm just wondering, it's always been drilled into my head that you shouldn't run the drives all the way in the trailer position while the boats running due to the extreme angles of the drive shaft and u-joints. However, I see so many people bring there boats into shallow water to raft up with the drives in this position. Am I wrong in thinking this way and just being overly cautious for nothing. I see pictures of so many expensive boats in waist deep water and I'm just wondering if there all walking them in or driving. How shallow is too shallow?

sound is a good indicator as to how far is too far, you can actually hear the u joints start to strain as you trim up, every boat is a lil different so you just need to use your better judgement.

If I am in waist deep water it is because either the tide has gone out, or I have walked it in.

If you just think about the angles - it CAN'T be good on those U-Joints.

We hang on the sandbar every weekend like alot of people.
I wonder this too. I'll park waist deep and walk it out when i leave. Seems all the rest drive in and drive out. Prop in the air.
These are not performance boats, but the drive can handle alot of abuse. Lot of holes in the sand too from running too low.Not for me.

I've always thought this applied only for running. The U-joint should be more than strong enough to have the drive hanging in the up position. I usually put the drive all the way and click it down once to release pressure in the pump.

the reason you see people running in shallow water with the drives all the way up is because they are idiots and truth be told there are way to many of them out there we see it countless times at our hang out beach.



no it is not good, in fact it is very bad to run even at idle with the drive in the trailer position. You can get away with it a few times but the damage and wear adds up.