Stupid Engineering
 

What's your favorite boat related stupid engineering design?

After last weekend changing the lower unit oil mine has to be the idiot who designed an oil system that has to be filled from the bottom. The "suction" your supposed to get from closing the top vent plug does not even begin to slow down the flow of super slippery Royal Purple pouring down your arm.

The clown who designed the Yamaha's carburators comes in a close second.

-Greg

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Stupid designs:
-The "upside-down" oil filter.
-Bow cleats positioned such that the first time you anchor, the bow light gets ripped off.
-Bilge pump float switches positioned so high in the bilge, that there's 8 inches of water before the pump engages.

For now.

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

The wooden cam gear in the Merc 140 in my ski boat takes the cake. Thats right, genuine billet wood. Next time I take it apart I will get a picture.

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

It wasn't wood... it was phenolic resin with cloth laminated in it... but it can look like wood. Pontiac 400's had them... they were notorious for failing. Ford used them in the gear drive camshafts on the V-12's... they were a little more successful there.

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

The outdrive. I win.

ed

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

More precisely... the BRAVO outdrive...... :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

The sailboat? :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Actually, that design has stood the test of time. It is the operators that are stoopid :rolleyes:

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

They are cheap bastards! They hate paying for docks, and they drink on the boat to save money! :drink:

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

What else are they going to do while they take hours and hours to get anywhere?.... :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Yes my GTO 400 had that also.
:rolleyes:

Why do they have the oil filter upside down? :eek:

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

So it will make a mess when you unspin it... also .. so that you cannot fill it before you put it on... that way all the air inside has to pass through the bearings before any oil gets there.... in other words.. Because some moron designed it that way.

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Hmmmm damn Mercruiser people :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

The TRI-HULL runabout

Roby

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Manatee Zones, I know it's not "engineered" but it is "engineered against us".

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Center rise exhaust manifolds.
It's almost impossible to pull the valve covers without pulling the manifolds.

I recently adjusted the valves on my buddy's triple engine boat with GIL's. :hothead:

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Punch the top of your filters so it will drain before taking them off. Now if they're sideways like mine your screwed every wich way!

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

How about this one?

It's all just a matter of weight and balance.

I avoid calling this a redneck roller coaster. As there are a fair share of rednecks around here.

None dumb enough to ride this one.

Yee Ha Baby

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Which V-12 are you referring too?

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

This kind of V-12.... or didn't you know Ford built a V-12?... They were in the Late 30's to late 40's Lincolns and Zephyrs......... :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

The up-side-down oil filter on the Mercruiser engines was designed to bring the oil filter closer to the top/front area of the engine for easier access with oil & filter changes. Every one of these filters that I have ever removed was pretty much empty when it came off, because it is up-side down vertically. The minor amount of oil droplets lost sure outweighs the bilge crawling in years past. My .02. Ed

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Two more
Un-necessary thru hull fittings below the waterline.
Hour meters wired to run with accesories on vs. actual engine running time.
ed

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

I dealt with that problem by adding "jumper wires" under the rear seat. That way I could always energize the circuit that had the engine hatch connected to it...... :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Ford still builds a V-12 :D

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Do yourselves a favor and mount the enitre oil filter assembly on the port side transom and be done with it! Never makes a mess when changing. Or, if you have twin engines and can't get back there, mount them on the bulkhead of the back seat. I've seen it done both ways.

'Foul

Re: Stupid Engineering
 

Auto Bilge Pump Float Switches that do not float. Check this thread out:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...t=bilge+switch