During beaching, what action should you take to prevent the motor from hitting the bottom?

• A. Raise the motor to prevent hitting the bottom
• B. Turn off the engine
• C. Leave the motor down
• D. Power forward slowly

Answer: (A)

Raising the motor before beaching keeps the propeller and lower unit out of contact with the bottom. This protects the prop, gearcase, and seals from damage caused by sand, rocks, and grounding, and reduces the risk of entanglement or debris damage as you approach shallow water. Simply turning off the engine doesn’t prevent the prop from striking the bottom if you’re still moving or if the water is very shallow, and leaving the motor down or pushing forward without lifting can lead to scraping and damage. Lifting the motor provides the needed clearance for safe beaching.