hotfoot = lower unit serial killer ?

had a conversation with a friend----
i have been boat shopping lately and have noticed a lot of reference to lower unit problems or replacements
im 50 + and have had many boats in my life --never had a lower unit problem
the theory is = people are putting the boat in gear under power (on accident of course) through lack of coordination with a hot foot
what say you ?

Probably has more to do with taking a bass boat in stump fields, rocks, etc opposed to a pleasure boat being in open water

I've had boats with and without hot foots. Never known it to be an issue nor have I ever heard it be a topic of concern.

This is my first boat with a hot foot and it needs one. I have not had that problem.
The reason most lower units go out are not shifting related. Line in the prop shaft that goes unchecked is probably the number one reason. Anytime the seals are compromised and the LU gets water inside you need to have that remedied.

Interesting thought

Agreed.

I have a theory as well about fishing line being the major culprit. Many times it is braided line that is wrapped around the prop shaft. If somebody throws it overboard, it floats just under the surface. The perfect place for a boater to pick it up unknowingly.

I have owned a bunch of boats with hotfoots and none of them had LU issues.

Lack of maintenance is reason for lower unit problems, that and not knowing where you are running.

Or simply newer outboards especially 200hp and over have a ton more torque and that helps in many failures. I seriously doubt a hot foot hurts at all. I personally don't see more lower unit failures than I did 15 years ago.

Most of my lower units have been trashed from my hotfoot . From flying around Lake Amistad and the hard bottom it has. If you find this your problem just call Two guys marine

Anyone that can drive a vehicle can figure out that you're not supposed to put a load on an engine before it is engaged in a gear. I think there are other factors.

In all my years of fishing I've only witnessed one lower unit destroyed by being put in gear while throttle was applied on the hot foot. Lots more lower units are shredded by hitting something, line around prop shaft, and poor maintenance IMO.

I don't know about other models, but the Yamaha ProV has a rpm lockout that keeps you from shifting in gear over about 1000 RPMs with a hotfoot. Well, you can force it, but you know you're doing something wrong if you do.

I'd say the that advent of the jackplate, faster boats with bigger motors, and these high pitch props. We run them so high, and jumping waves. it's real hard on the gearboxes when they re-enter the water when jumping a wave. I've started burying my jackplate when running rough water. Ever notice that those off shore race boats have a driver and a throttle man?

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

I change my LU fluid twice a year. After changing, I take it on a short run to warm up the fluid, put it back on the trailer, and crack the top bleed screw, allowing any pressure off and drain any excess gear oil...just a couple of seconds...then tighten the bleed screw.

Especially important on Mercury Torquemaster and Sportmaster LU's.

Spot on about the braided line wrapping around the prop shaft... Lost my L/U to that, Chuck at Service Marine advised me to check that shaft regularly...

I can't imagine how/why anyone would put their boat in gear while pressing on the hot foot. My foot isn't even on the HF when I put the motor in gear.

Not during normal operation, no way. But sometimes the pedal gets stuck, linkage comes apart, something rolls around under the console and interferes with the hotfoot, or someone tunes their carbs a little hot (not me, nope...) and can't figure why it won't shift smoothly...

It happens, but it's definitely not supposed to!

No doubt. If that happens that it operator error and not the fault of a hotfoot. Heck using that logic I guess you could slam it in gear if using a hand throttle as well.

I don't think most newer outboards will let u put in gear if RPMs are over a certain amount. Can someone else please confirm this by trying it?

I can't figure how you even got this idea.

People slowly putting their boat into gear is probably one of the worst culprits.
I hear guys all the time at the ramp slowly shifting the gears and they grind when switching.
You should quickly put your motor in gear. Every time you do slow you cause a little but of damage.

As far a a hotfoot, I don't know if or why they would cause a problem. People are must more used to driving a car and they naturally know not to depress the gas while shifting gears.

This.....I bought a lower unit for one of my earlier rigs because of this........my mechanic gave me a good talking to about how to do it right. The faster the better. If you hear the gears bouncing off each other you are doing it way to slow.....

with a hand throttle you engage gears before any throttle is available

Fact is. The lower unit takes the most abuse. Oil lthe drain plug. If it's clean and there is no water drops, rock on.

I would be glad to try that...can I borrow your boat?

Go ahead and slam yours in gear with the hand throttle.

No problem with my lower and hotfoot! I think it boils down to operator error if you ask me.

So are engaging gears with hand throttle fast or slow? New post? Didn't mean to hijack.

My problem is not my hotfoot, it's those damn stumps that are attached to the hotfoot.

If your engine idle speed is set right, and you allow the prop to stop turning, your LU should literally fall in gear with nothing more than a mild clunk...no grinding or bashing gears.

Well I blew up a lower unit on my Mercury 250 ProXS 2 weeks after it was serviced. Approximately 150 hours on the motor, running around 60, 5200 rpms and the pinion gear let go. It seems that the Torquemaster Gen 1's have a propensity to do this. Under warranty but I was not happy.

I am careful about watching my RPM's and 9 times out of 10 my foot is not even on the hotfoot when I put it in gear.

No indication of hitting anything, no line on prop shaft, and properly serviced by a Mercury wrench. It happens.