Engine Shutting off when Hitting Waves

[debbie199us]

Hi: We boat on a big lake that can have large waves. On more then one occasion one or both engines shuts off when we hit large waves. We have heard this is an automatic safety feature. Is that correct or is there anything we can change to stop this from happening. Once we stop the engine starts right back up.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

It’s probably the safety switches under your stern hatch where the clean out plugs are located.

 

[debbie199us]

It’s probably the safety switches under your stern hatch where the clean out plugs are located.

Can we turn them off? Thank you very much for your response.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

Not that I’m aware. Some people tape a coin over them.

 

[Betik]

You could adjust them or tape like a dime or quarter

 

[Dough]

Probably just need to latch the lid.

 

[feziwig]

You can adjust the height on the switches under the cleanout lid.

 

[Ronnie]

To clarify the switches are sometimes tripped when the hatch over them is secured loosely or not at all. The “fix” is to raise the switches from the current mounting points and / or tape a spacer like a coin to the bottom of the hatch where the switches make contact with it. The idea being that the switches are always fully down when the hatch locked down in place.

FYI my switches are two separate black buttons mounted in black plastic barrels which are threaded on their outer perimeter. They can be moved up/mounted higher by tightening the plastic nut holding the barrel of the switch in place on the clean out tray.

 

[debbie199us]

To clarify the switches are sometimes tripped when the hatch over them is secured loosely or not at all. The “fix” is to raise the switches from the current mounting points and / or tape a spacer like a coin to the bottom of the hatch where the switches make contact with it. The idea being that the switches are always fully down when the hatch locked down in place.

FYI my switches are two separate black buttons mounted in black plastic barrels which are threaded on their outer perimeter. They can be moved up/mounted higher by tightening the plastic nut holding the barrel of the switch in place on the clean out tray.

Thank you!

 

[tabbibus]

man, I would not disable the switch with the coin hack. It is a good safety fail safe check. One never knows!

 

[Betik]

man, I would not disable the switch with the coin hack. It is a good safety fail safe check. One never knows!

the coin approach will not disable the safety switch. It will just push the switch down a bit further down, just to prevent it from activating when the boat flexes. If you were open the hatch it will still shut off. We are taking maybe 2 or 3 MM

 

[tabbibus]

the coin approach will not disable the safety switch. It will just push the switch down a bit further down, just to prevent it from activating when the boat flexes. If you were open the hatch it will still shut off. We are taking maybe 2 or 3 MM

ah, so you put the coin on the hatch, not the switch? I thought you were just making them be permanently down. Got it.

 

[Gym]

ah, so you put the coin on the hatch, not the switch? I thought you were just making them be permanently down. Got it.

That's correct. Taping a coin is not a permanent fix but merely to test if the switch is out of adjustment allowing you to know which switch to adjust. As mentioned it may also be as simple as the hatch latch is not holding the hatch closed properly. If the hatch is bouncing when you hit a wave it will allow the switch to open killing the related engine.

 

[Merlion]

That’s definitely your problem. The safety switch is not making full pressure contact against the door hatch. You can adjust the metal brackets that hook up the locking mechanism to make the door hatch tighter when closing...and avoid a gap above the safety switch