Engine hatch blow up!

[lashk]

I was on the way home from the dealer after spending $3200 on a engine rebuild when at 70 mph my engine hatch blew open. This is the second time this has happened. Luckily the damage was minor but I was wondering if anyone out there has had the same thing happen or am I the only one this lucky.

 

[timmyboy76]

70mph on those 12/13in. tires....just be glad the hatch "popped" open, and nuth'n else.

 

[SeadooBOB Square Pants]

70mph on those 12/13in. tires....just be glad the hatch "popped" open, and nuth'n else.

Yeah that is hauling some pretty serious azz. If I tow my ski at that speed it whips around and fish tails something awful. But to answer your intial question I let my boat air dry on the way home. I do about 55-60 and I have never had an issue.

 

[lashk]

C'mon guys, do you really think 70 mph is too fast to pull this boat? I pulled it 5 hours home doing 70 mph when I bought it used in Destin Fl. The first time it blew open was when I first picked it up and I was only doing 45 mph. It's the pistons that pop it up if the latch lets loose. I had a Harbor Freight trailer with 12" tires that I would pull 80 mph if I needed to.

 

[timmyboy76]

it aint the speed brother, but rather size of tire. In comparison, with 1 revolution of your tire, the trailer one is doing about 5-6 revs. So at 70ish, that bi*** is humm'n.

http://www.miata.net/cgi-bin/tirescgi

 

[scooper77515]

Isn't that what bearing grease is for? :reddevil:

I drove from Karl's house in Englewood Florida to the keys at 65, then from Key West to Houston at 65-70. Just greased those little suckers up and nailed it.

I drive all my toys with the covers on. The one time I didn't to a local river, the bimini top caught some wind and one side broke off leading to some mismatched patchwork on it. Yes, it was rolled up and wrapped in it's little sock, but not tied down to the cleats.

Since then, I keep it all wrapped tight with the covers that were provided.

The covers also improve gas mileage while pulling the boat. Instead of the wind sucking down and parachuting against the seats, the cover sorta wings the wind up and over. I was getting 14.5 mpg with no cover, then 16 with it on. Not a huge improvement, but from Key West to Houston, I think that comes up to a couple hundred bucks saved (on last summer's $4 per gallon gas).

 

[rryanstrickland]

As I do, use a bungie to hold it down...just in case!