Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Johannes van die See wrote: WOW!
That's allot of weight, I wonder how many other 4x4 vehicles can handle it as well as a Patrol?

NEE DAAR IS NOG GEEN OPISISIE NIE

LC 105 4.5 EFI can handle it just as well.

But.... the slight extra KW from the TB48 will work lekker on the road,... and the slight extra low down torque of the EFI will work better in the rough.

Of course though,... i would take the Patrol.

My previous 4.5 Patrol did the job just as well in the sand. In fact I have found that a clutch gives just a little more control on your traction when you manoeuvring on soft sand. As you say Russ, the 4.8 really shines in the general towing due to extra power. I also had a 3,0 CRD V6 Jeep Chrokee a while back and once towed down to Sodwana with that. With the 500nm torque it actually did quite well and had a great fuel consumption. I could see the temps rising though when you had the foot flat, so just took it easy... I don't think it will last doing this kind of job. I never tried it on the sand though cos that's the Patrols job!

Chris

Seems like you've got allot of experience with beach launching, I need some advice please.
We hardly ever do beach launching in the Cape but I might take my Ace Glider up north some day.

My question to you is, how can I test if I really have a Beaching Kit on my outboards? When I bought the boat it was advertised with a Beaching Kit being installed, and usually there is a small sticker on the outboard to indicate this, but I can't see anything and don't want to ram my boat up a beach not being sure that I can do it safely. Any advice?

I use to test the kick out with a strap and big pull scale and slowly pulling till it unhooked do you know what it set on ???
Mabe put in reverse while on water and see that it pulls out.....

No release in reverse gear under normal use, maybe I should try it while at anchor

Johannes - Firstly, don't hit the beach with them in down position unless you know for sure - can result in a lot of damage!
I don't know what engines you have, and the best way to be sure is to take it to a dealer to check for you. I had a beaching 'kit' installed on my yammie's, so had reasonable peace of mind first time I hit the beach with them. On my engine you cant tell by reversing hard, they wont pop up.

Chris Ive got two 90HP Mercury motors on a 530 Ace Glider.
Do you slightly trim your motors up when beaching, whats is a safe speed in your opinion?

I used to trim them slightly up, but now that I have confidence the beach kit works, I don't worry about it. I think its more important to ensure that you hit the beach with the right timing ie with the rush of water from a wave just beached. I find that just on the plane is a good speed for me. It also depends on the shore profile - if you need to get well out of the water due to a shore break then put more speed. Its actually not good to be too slow cos if you stop with shore dump pounding the back of boat its not very comfortable. Definitely don't get timing wrong and jump over a shore break and hit dry sand... it hurts!
If the situation allows it, I come in at an angle of up to 45 degrees as it helps with the timing of the waves hitting the beach, and just turn 90degrees into beach at the last 20m or so, to arrive there with the wave.

Thanks Chris, your advice gave me a very good idea of how to time the waves.

We completely hijacked this thread......Sorry