Over the years a lot of people I have talked with have speculated what would happen if you blow up a Merc # 6 Drive in a Cat at speed.

Well look no further... a week before the Miami boatshow "one a them thar #6's done blowed up on me" a mile offshore of Miami heading south at about 105 MPH.

A lot of people wonder what happens when you blow up a drive in a Catamaran at speed... Essentially, nothing you turn the throttle down, put it in neutral stay on plane and go back to port at 50 MPH instead of 110... Also bring water to keep hydrated! Mind you I have heard the other "well what happens if it seizes"... my guess is with the forces involved nothing will seize the shaft would break and you would lose your prop the boat has so much kinetic energy going forward that not much will make it veer from course unless a rogue wave or Jason Priessly (whatever the f his name is) hits it!

Here is the video, I have it on my website in better definition ( http://www.limestonedev.com/mti/vide...Drive_Done.mov ) but once it is up on youtube properly just hit the highest definition on bottom left and keep an eye on the RPM of the port engine. Also bring plenty of water those cockpit boats get hot!

You might want to turn the sound down a bit!!!!

Double click the "YouTube" Icon in the lower corner for the better view.


[youtube]FaYSDK4FXj4[/youtube]

What was the cause?

A seal let go on top of the drive and the oil drained in the belows up there...

That's what Jeremy told me... So all you people run oil in them #6's they don't fair well dry!!!

It stayed on plane with 1 motor pretty cool!

The key is not to stop.... I've never fixed anything in the middle of the ocean or a lake so I put it in neutral and go back home!!!!!

Feeling sorrow at 8 knots sucks! Coming back at 50 MPH on one mill gets you back to hit the bar a LOT faster!!!!

So what was the shop bill?

Matt Kaiser had a drive seize on his 24 skater at WOT. He got brand new motors and did not check the fluid in the drives. The one drive seized up solid with the prop still on it. He did take a very hard right into the trees. Boat got quite messed up. I would imagine that your boat is a LOT more stable in an event like that then a 24 skater.

It's a work of love....

Bummer man...

Is the mill OK?


Frank
Just keep telling yourself: "It's only money..."

I have blown two engs.(holes through the block) in my 28 Skater @ speed, a 2.5 modified blew when I was "cruising" @ 110 and a 300XS @ 90.In both cases the boat would PULL towards the blown side, just backed off the throttles and counter steered No Big Deal.Before that I would have my 2.5`s cut off @ 100several times, same thing ,would PULL towards shut down motor.I do think if you just "Froze Up" and did Not counter steer ,yes you would have a problem.