Capsized boat, trolling motor underwater

[Walter Sikora]

My Jon boat capsized today.  My trolling motor controls were underwater.  Can I use the motor again or did I just blow $250?  Bought it yesterday, first time I used it today.

[Janderson45]

Well, it doesn’t hurt to try after everything has dried out?  You should have an answer to your question pretty quickly I would think.

 

More importantly, how and why did you capsize your Jon?

[kjfishman]

Take the covers off the control so you can stick it in a bag of rice. Leave it a few days before trying.  Glad you are ok. And yes tell us what happened

[Dogface]

As the others have said open it up to the air and let it dry out.

 

Rice will absorb the moisture in some of the hard to get to places. . 

[billmac]

TMs are built to be in wet environments.  Let it dry and it will probably be fine, assuming something didn't short out when you initially capsized.

[Way2slow]

Stand it upside down, so if any water got into the motor section, it can drain back out through the shaft.  If you leave it sitting on the skeg, and it got water in the motor, it can cause rust and corrosion if left there. 

Other than that, you should be fine.

I had one that leaked in the motor section and still used it for several years.  I just stored it upside down so it could drain when I was through using it.

[OnthePotomac]

Take it to a TM authorized service quickly and have them take it down and check everything for you.  They will know what to do.

[looking45]

1 hour ago, OnthePotomac said:

Take it to a TM authorized service quickly and have them take it down and check everything for you.  They will know what to do.

That will probably cost more than the $250 he paid for the motor.

[WRB]

4 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Stand it upside down, so if any water got into the motor section, it can drain back out through the shaft.  If you leave it sitting on the skeg, and it got water in the motor, it can cause rust and corrosion if left there. 

Other than that, you should be fine.

I had one that leaked in the motor section and still used it for several years.  I just stored it upside down so it could drain when I was through using it.

This ^^^^

Let it dry out, should be good to go.

You are safe, did you loose any tackle?

Tom

[TnRiver46]

My buddies sank a boat with a gas engine and mud motor kit. Thing still runs great after pouring all the water/gas/oil out 

[Mikeltee]

The tale of my first boat... I took possession at 7pm. I put it in my slip at 9pm. I came back at 7am and it was underwater... bad bellows. The engine was flushed with 10 gallons of oil and it was fine. These things are made for wet conditions. I think you are going to be fine. I too would like to hear what happened. If it was from some wakeboard boats wake, I feel really bad for you. I wish there were some no wake lakes around here. I am afraid to take anything less than 20' out. I really want a kayak but I don't know where I could safely go with it.

[Walter Sikora]

Yes, I came out ok.  Fortunately, someone on shore heard my call for help (had two whistles but both in the tackle box). Wife bought me a new tackle box the day before.  Lost it, four rods and reels, new battery.  Three plastic cases came up and salvaged them.  Boat has a seat on the rear portion of the boat; unfortunately it is set to the right side of the boat.  I thought I had it balanced, but when I reached for something in the tackle box I must have leaned too far to the right.

 

Going to take the seat off and either leave it off or put it back on in the center of the seat area.

 

Back fishing after 15 year lay off due to severe back issues.  Had a couple of surgeries and another on the way.  Bad start to trying to get back to something I have missed for ever!

 

Leary of putting it back in the water.  Might take a couple of weeks to get the courage to put it back in the water.

[senile1]

9 minutes ago, Walter Sikora said:

Yes, I came out ok.  Fortunately, someone on shore heard my call for help (had two whistles but both in the tackle box). Wife bought me a new tackle box the day before.  Lost it, four rods and reels, new battery.  Three plastic cases came up and salvaged them.  Boat has a seat on the rear portion of the boat; unfortunately it is set to the right side of the boat.  I thought I had it balanced, but when I reached for something in the tackle box I must have leaned too far to the right.

 

Going to take the seat off and either leave it off or put it back on in the center of the seat area.

 

Back fishing after 15 year lay off due to severe back issues.  Had a couple of surgeries and another on the way.  Bad start to trying to get back to something I have missed for ever!

 

Leary of putting it back in the water.  Might take a couple of weeks to get the courage to put it back in the water.

 

Sorry to hear that.  Maybe you could tell us about your boat, its size, layout, etc.  and some of the people here can give you some ideas how to make it safer.  I would hate for this incident to keep you from doing something you love.

[WRB]

Good news bad news, it's good you were rescued and bad you tipped over loosing everything that didn't float. Hope you had on a PFD. Stuff can be replaced.

It sounds like the Jon boat is too narrow for the weight making it difficult to balance the load. Lowering the center of gravity helps, adding stability with out rigging poontons that effectively widen the boat is a possibility that canoe use.

Be safe,

Tom

[greentrout]

2 hours ago, Walter Sikora said:

 

 

Leary of putting it back in the water.  Might take a couple of weeks to get the courage to put it back in the water.

respectfully, i'd consider getting another boat ... 14ft. jon boats are usually safe ... i won't get in anything less ...

 

you only get one ... you were lucky ...

[Deleted account]

On 8/14/2019 at 6:29 PM, senile1 said:

 

Sorry to hear that.  Maybe you could tell us about your boat, its size, layout, etc. 

He flipped it by leaning too far, It's a 10-12ft Jon, or some other tiny thing.

[senile1]

3 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

He flipped it by leaning too far, It's a 10-12ft Jon, or some other tiny thing.

I saw that he leaned too far and assumed it was a smaller boat, but I see no post in this articular thread that states it is 10 or 12 feet.  I thought we could help him out with balancing it.  I have a 10 foot Jon I use now and then, in addition to my bass boat and I am able to stand and cast in it.  (I don’t recommend that anglers stand in a 10 foot Jon but it does have to be a balanced boat to do it.)

[Ratherbfishing]

I would never have a boat I couldn't trust to lean in ANY direction.  As WRB suggested, if you insist upon keeping this boat, lower the center of gravity and/or install outriggers on it.  I doubt you want to repeat this experience anytime soon.

 

Trolling motors are designed for wet conditions.  Corrosion would be more of a problem with trapped water than anything so when you dry it, make sure to shake it all out (but not too vigorously).  Don't run it until you're sure it's dry.

[Fishes in trees]

How big is the boat and how much do you weigh?    When manufacturers put a weight limit on a boat, there is a certain "fudge factor".  The boat should have an information plate on it, stating the brand & model #,  length, width, horse power limit , people limit, and WEIGHT LIMIT. If the boat is old enough that the information plate on the boat is missing, then you have to guess.  If you know the brand of the boat, you can call them up and get an idea, or if you don't know the brand you can look up something similar and go with the stats from that boat.  You obviously exceeded that - by a bunch.  A mis-aligned seat isn't, by itself, a reason for a boat to tip.

Too much weight is.   4 rods & reels - a few tackle boxes - a battery & trolling motor isn't an inordinate amount of weight.  While you're replacing gear, they make these things called life jackets - might want to get one.  You are actually fortunate you did this in the summer time when the water is relatively warm.   Do this in April or late October and you might have drowned.

I hope the there is someone in your neighborhood, who you know & trust, who can give you an honest opinion about how to balance out the weight in your boat.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

The boat should have an information plate on it, stating the brand & model #,  length, width, horse power limit , people limit, and WEIGHT LIMIT

Remember that the weight limit includes everything that isn't a part of the original boat.

 

Motor, battery, people, gear, added seats, coolers...anything that isn't original counts towards the weight limit.