Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by Eastend on 05/25/11 - 7:54 AM

I recently ran aground in my 17 with my Dad occupying the console cooler. Facing forward we hit soft silty sand going about 10mph and gaining when it threw him forward. I shut everything down as he lay on the anchor locker - he was fine but shooken up. The reason for his launch - was that these coolers are only tied-down in the vertical direction and not in the horizontal, causing them to pitch forth upon the abrupt stop.

Will you all point me to some cleat tie-backs or other ideas to brace this loose cooler?

Posted by Joe Kriz on 05/25/11 - 10:53 AM

The original Montauk cleats had toe pieces so the cooler would not slide forward.

Drawings are available in the "Download" section on the left sidebar.
Montauk Cooler Cleats
http://www.whalercentral.com/download...owstart=15

Posted by Gamalot on 05/25/11 - 2:40 PM

We don't do much "Running A ground" up here but I have seen motors and transoms torn right off boats when the water level gets low and the Captain is unaware of where the rocks are.

It seems to me that with or with out the chocks, Dad would have ended up forward any way. It is not like we have seat belts bolted in up there!

Posted by Phil T on 05/25/11 - 3:59 PM

If you really want to keep the cooler from shifting forward, run a taught bungie cord from the handle back to the aft face of the cooler chocks.

A 40 year Maine island lobsterman friend told me once while motoring in the dense fog:

(insert heavy Maine accent)
"I don't know where the rocks are, I know where the rocks ain't"

Edited by Phil T on 05/25/11 - 4:00 PM

Posted by Gamalot on 05/26/11 - 2:46 AM

Phil T wrote:
If you really want to keep the cooler from shifting forward, run a taught bungie cord from the handle back to the aft face of the cooler chocks.

A 40 year Maine island lobsterman friend told me once while motoring in the dense fog:

(insert heavy Maine accent)
"I don't know where the rocks are, I know where the rocks ain't"

That's just about right Phil! My local reservoir is used for Hydro Electric so the level fluctuates a good deal all summer long. A few years ago they drained it for dam repairs and it was pretty interesting if not scary to take a walk and see where giant boulders had taken their toll on many motors and props. One spot you could be in 20 FOW and smacking your prop on a huge rock that is just sitting there waiting. It has lots of aluminum scars all over it and from every direction and was like a Christmas tree decorated with lures.