Sitting On A DD Engine Cover

[AbunDiga909]

Just recently we have started to sit on the engine cover on our 04 216 and to our dissapointment, the two latches keep comming undone when even a little weight is on the engine cover... Just recently I was docking, someone was on the engine cover, sat up to grab the dock, the engine cover popped up while still moving, so i shut of the engine quick, but couldn't stop the boat from slaming into the dock and now have some nice scratches on the bow...

Has this happened to any of you recent DD owners? On the old 2001s this doesn't happen cuz they don't have the clamshell design. Is there a way to fix this problem so the engine cover can be a seat again?

[Dr.John]

Pretty frustrating when something like that happens! :evil:

Haven't had that problem on my '01 Sport, however, I have noticed that the latches are pretty hard to latch. I suspect that moving the bottom catch so that the latch is tighter and therefore harder to latch would solution the problem.

As far as the scrathes are concerned, if they are thu the gel coat, you might try Spectra and DIY. They are here http://www.spectrumcolor.com/

[AbunDiga909]

Pretty frustrating when something like that happens! :evil:

Tell me about it...

It looks like its something that could be buffed out or something... It feels worse than it looks, not sure if thats good or bad...

**** just thinking about it frustrates me! :evil:

Whats ironic is my dad, who WAS sitting on the engine cover at the time, was actually happy I shut it off when I did cuz he said that he wouldn't have noticed what was going on as soon as he would of, so that made me feel good...

So here's the compromize I made unwillingly... There are now some not so cool scratches on the bow, but I'm that much of a better/more responsible driver now. Was it worth it? Not sure if this is wose than dog crapping on boat either...

AHHHH I CAN'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS!!!! :lol: :evil:

[ag4ever]

Why did you shut the engine off? Just because the engine cover was open?

I run my SANTE at slow speeds with the cover open. Mostly to open and close the ballast tank valves. They also suggest you start the engine with it open. the gas fumes may ignite, and with an open cover they won't explode with force like in a confined spaced, just keep passengers away.

[AbunDiga909]

ag4ever.... couple reasons...

first of all, theres a difference between starting w/ it open and knowing its open as long as everybody else in the boat. This was a total surprize.

second, i just shoved it into hard reverse to slow us down cuz it wasn't my best docking just as the cover opened, so it got loud quick

third, i'm not an engine genius but i know as for the dangereous parts, the belt is one of them and I had children sitting all around so w/ the sudden jolt of going in reverse and the engine popping open, i figured it was the safe/right thing to do. I don't like having the engine cover open w/ small ones behind the bow.

And lastly, its just natural instingt, between it openeing as a surprize and kids and docking and the loud noise, i just shut it off naturally. However, I agree w/ you about starting w/ it open, i do that sometimes too, but then i'm not moving and i tell everyone i'm doing it and make sure no ones around.

[slob02]

I have a 97, so I don't really know exactally what yours is like. Could you take one of the shocks off so it wasn't as strong??????

[SprintCar39]

I have also had that problem on a boat or two. We just relocate the lower bracket down a little and that has fixed the problem everytime. Carpet hides everything.

[BigBald]

bummer about the whole experience...but I have had many debats about people sitting on the engine cover in the first place.

Some say it's not made for that type of abuse. Some say it's illegal for someone to ride on it at all.

I would be curious to know what anybody else thinks. Should I start another topic?

[AbunDiga909]

Eric, that sounds like the best plan to me, I'm thinking like an inch lower at most would do the trick, right? How much do you lower yours?

[SprintCar39]

An inch will be way too much. The rubber does not have that much strech becasue it is so short. We are moving ours about 3/8 of an inch. I have not had to move one any further than that yet.

[SGY]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but Eric, what do you do with shocks that don't stay on. My shocks on my 206 pop off the lower bracket all the time. I'm wondering if I have an alignment problem. Whatever it is, I've given up and am leaving the shocks off for now.

[SprintCar39]

SGY..hard to say for sure, but here is what I would look for. There should be a little black piece that looks like a button with 4 small legs that stick out that retains the heim onto the ball. I have seen some of these samll legs get snapped off and will no longer hold the heim onto the ball. Take a look at that and if nothing else maybe we can just warranty two new ones for you. Let me know if you need a pic or more details. Eric

[SprintCar39]

Abun.... Here is a easy fix for you. take the lower bracket loose and move it down so that the original top hole in the bracket is now using the lower existing hole and just drill a new hole for the bottom of the bracket. Pretty simple fix. Eric

[ag4ever]

OK, now with kids in the boat, whole different situation. I would have killed the engine in your case also, as moving belts, and kid's fingers and hands don't mix well.

Scratces are easier to fix than kids.

Now if it was a boat of adults, i would have saved the boat, and told the adults to be carefull.

[SGY]

Thanks Eric. I'll take a look and get back to you.