how bad is listing your boat on your engine?

[Robmc9]

A few weeks ago I was surfing with a bunch of buddies and 1 of them was an auto mechanic and he couldn't believe how much I listed my boat (2014 RZ2 w/ MLA big sacks on each corner) and so I questioned his reasons why. trust me I'm no mechanic but it started making me question the same thing. His biggest issue was how much damage could be being done to the engine as all of its lubricant are now no longer lubricating their parts correctly due to the extreme list (list my boat just at or slightly above the rub rail.)
So I pose the question to the experts (boat experts) here (sorry no assumptions, I'm looking for sold facts) on what they think could possibly go wrong in the quest for the best surf wave possible.
His other points were; the engines of cars and he'd have to guess boats were made to run flat and were built this way, imagine taking your car and driving it on edge (say like those videos we used to see of cars driving on 2 wheels) and imagine how many issues this would cause due to some many moving parts now being stressed due to the listing.

[chpthril]

I dont see it being an issue as long as the oil is kept at its proper level. The oil pump pickup is at the lowest point of the pan, so listing the boat over should never leave the pickup sucking air. The only thing that needs lubed that not fed by oil pressure, is the under side of the pistons. These get lubed by oil slung up by the crank rotating. Again, if the oil level is up, the crank should be slinging plenty of oil.

[ericinmich]

Not a worry, the oil pickup is at the bottom of the oil pan, the engines (in vehicle) are tested at max Gs to be sure there isn't any oil starvation.

Front to back tilt is a bigger issue in base engine/vehicle design for oil starvation. Boats listed at 10% is nothing...

[tigeunrest]

I have a 2007 Marine Power 360. I was having issues with it going into limp mode whenever it was listed. The crank shaft was causing the oil to froth, this in turn made the oil pump suck in some air bubbles and think that it had lost oil pressure. I actually have to put in 1 less quart of oil in the pan to prevent it from happening. I just fill till the bottom mark of the dipstick.

[UNSTUCK]

To echo everyone else ( and as a professional mechanic ) I can tell you no harm will happen as long as you can read oil pressure on your gauge of you aren't blowing white smoke out the pipes.

I come from the jeep/rock crawling crowd. I have been literally put on my side with the top of my fenders dragging on the ground to clear an obstical at I didn't even start to blow smoke yet. So I had a ways to go. I doubt any boat will ever list over that far. You'll have much bigger problems at that point. But rest assured if you do, your motor will not loose oil.

[Wakeman22]

I have a 2007 Marine Power 360. I was having issues with it going into limp mode whenever it was listed. The crank shaft was causing the oil to froth, this in turn made the oil pump suck in some air bubbles and think that it had lost oil pressure. I actually have to put in 1 less quart of oil in the pan to prevent it from happening. I just fill till the bottom mark of the dipstick.

I have this same engine and have never had an oil code, nor an oil issue. I have pondered the issue of listed boats and engine problems before and always come up with the same result. There may be some harm done, but I hope it is negligible versus the idea that I would not be able to surf. Guess which thought won over?

[Ewok]

Here is a thread I saw on the subject a while ago when I was researching the very same questions:

http://www.supraboats.com/bbs/showth...hange-your-oil!

I think it can't hurt to change oil more frequently but at a minimum be more aware and check the fluid levels more often. When I'm driving the boat I like to have engine temp and oil pressure displayed as much as possible.

[IDBoating]

x2 on Ewok's comments. Remember, your oil system is pressurized. 50-70 PSI is common at our typical boating RPM's, and pretty serious pressure. That means the oil system in your engine is driving oil where it needs to go with a fair amount of pressure, not just relying on gravity. As long as the oil pickup can get oil, you'll have pressure, and your engine will be lubed accordingly. If the pickup CAN'T get oil, you'll immediately get an oil pressure warning and know to shut off your engine.

Personally, I would be more concerned about the transmission and v-drive. Those don't have an active pressurized oil system like the engine does. (Yes, the transmission circulates oil through the intercooler, but not like the engine's 50-70 PSI.) I have wondered if tilting those devices could have a harmful effect, but I haven't ever heard any reports.

[chpthril]

As long as the v-drive has ample fluid, it will stay lubed like a diff or transfer case, but they do have a small pump though. The trans however, is a different matter. Its hydraulic same as an automatic on a road vehicle, so it relies on line pressure to engage the clutch pack, keep it engaged and prevent slippage. You may see 100+ PSI in a boat trans.

[IDBoating]

Excellent, then as long as the pickup in the transmission is bathed in fluid a hull tilt should be no issue, just like the engine. Thanks for the excellent description!

[tigeunrest]

I have this same engine and have never had an oil code, nor an oil issue. I have pondered the issue of listed boats and engine problems before and always come up with the same result. There may be some harm done, but I hope it is negligible versus the idea that I would not be able to surf. Guess which thought won over?

Wakeman22 I was just looking back at a post I had started in 2013 about limp mode. You had said to check the batteries and fuse by the battery. I had an issue with the fuses this year around the batteries and replaced one of them. I had my boat go into limp mode last year a few times but not like the previous year. When it did I just adjusted my acceleration and it was not really an issue. I noticed this year that limp mode hasn't happened this year at all, not once. I had put a new prop and didn't think about the fuse until I looked back at that post. Interesting coincidence.

[Thegerman618]

Its funny that I read this thread now, I was just at a Malibu dealer picking up a new wake surf board and was rocking my Tige shirt (no big deal). The owner of the shop (a friend) asked me how comfortable I feel about listing my boat and with the probability of oil starvation? I had never considered it, although his argument made me laugh, "no need to list the new 2016 Malibu just engage your surf gate lets go look at one". I cant imagine that its an issue as others above have mentioned, think about unloaded when you turn the boat, the roll into the turn is well beyond 7 degrees and its fine, far as I am concerned if the oil pressure reads right surf it!!

[loudelectronics]

Should ask the malibu dealer how the engine likes revving at 4k+ rpm with all the ballast it needs to make a good surf wake. Much rather list and run at 3k rpm than have to staring the motor all day long.