ol' lady got rope caught in the prop

[bryce2320]

Hauled the camper n boat an hour and a half down to the lake. Got camper sat up and the two of us went out so I could shred at about 8:30. My first time to fall she came around to get mea lil fast and had to throttle thru the roller so it didn't go in the boat. She than turned a tight 180 and started to idle back to me. She shut the boat off and said something didn't sound right. Sure as f*** she got the rope in the prop. Got towed in and loaded, cut the rope away and checked for damage. The boat wasn't taking on water so the shaft goin into the boat ( is that called an impellar?) Appeared to b fine. I quickly started the boat and put it in gear and revd it up and something went clink clink clink. Definately not good! Needless to say its almost midnight and were heading home cuz I'm so pissed! Not at her, just the bad luck we've had all year. Does any one have an idea what that noise was? Idk if its a DIY fix or an expensive 2 week fix?!? Any input is greatly appreciated

[Yessup]

jus lie kat, ryte dere

[chpthril]

I quickly started the boat and put it in gear and revd it up and something went clink clink clink

Was the boat still on the trailer and out of the water when you restarted it? If so, the prop shaft bushing in the strut will make noise when the shaft is turning and its running dry. May not be a thing wrong. Good luck.

[bryce2320]

Yea it was out of the water but it was the same noise she heard when the rope got sucked up

[bryce2320]

I could also spin the prop freely easier than I have before, the sound that it made was similar to a u joint broke and a shaft flopping around goin clunk clunk clunk while it tried to turn. Clearly it wouldn't b but that was the sound.

[boatwakes]

Check the shaft coupler at the transmission, you probably sheared the bolts. Easy fix but you must use grade 8 fine thread fasteners, lock washers and non nylon nuts, check shaft alignment before reinstalling and pay attention to any new vibrations. Easy to check if you sheared the bolts: pull on the prop and if the shaft moves out/back thats the problem. Let us know.

[bryce2320]

Check the shaft coupler at the transmission, you probably sheared the bolts. Easy fix but you must use grade 8 fine thread fasteners, lock washers and non nylon nuts, check shaft alignment before reinstalling and pay attention to any new vibrations. Easy to check if you sheared the bolts: pull on the prop and if the shaft moves out/back thats the problem. Let us know.

I took the boat in yesterday, on the phone they acted like the sooner I got it up there the sooner they'll get it fixed. Took it up there and there's a 2 week wait! Kind of what I expected tho. I'm gonna call first thing in the morning and c if he can check the coupler. I looked at it yesterday and remember one of the 4 bolts were loose but it seemed tight on there, no slack in it. Hopefully it just had the other 2 in a bind but I'm hoping there sheered. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

[bryce2320]

The shaft coupler is solid, no sheered bolts. DAMNIT! it sounded like the tranny was locked up or sumthing today, i dont even know if the prop was spinning when i slipped it into gear. It just grinded and sounded awful. Im beginning to think this is the end of the summer for me. Any more ideas on what it could be?

[boatwakes]

That grinding was the dry strut bearing crying out in pain as its second layer of life was violently ripped away from its .010-.015 shaft clearance tolerance... However, that awesome sound means your shaft was spinning and thats a good thing. To avoid hearing this nails-on-a-chalkboard sound again, grab another garden hose and aim it at the strut bearing (the barrel where the shaft goes through just ahead of the propeller) so it gets lubed. Please don't do this with your face in the propeller as you won't be able to focus clearly on the 13X13L stamped into the hub after it's in gear. Instead, lube it from ahead of the prop where you run the risk of poking yourself in the dome with a skeg.
You might be okay from what it sounds like. Throw it back in the lake and see what happens because it sounds like the couple times you've put it in gear since the incident the boat's been out of the water and you shouldn't put it in gear out of the water.

[bryce2320]

ok i will difenately give it a go, thanks

[bbethke]

Yes, you NEVER, NEVER want to shift these into gear when on a trailer. That packing around the driveshaft absolutely has to have the water to lubricate it. A correctly adjusted packing should just show a slight occasional drip when the boat is in the water, as this tells you it is getting lubricated. I think your shaft/trans is probably okay. The noise you heard is what you would hear if you try to run it dry. I would guess if any damage has been done, it is because you ran the shaft dry, not because the rope was wrapped around. I suggest these tests:
1) Launch the boat and put it into gear at idle. Does it sound okay?
2) If so, slowly accelerate smoothly and listen and feel for any vibrations. If you have vibrations,slow down immediately and idle back to the trailer and take it in to get serviced - you have a bent prop shaft and need to get it replaced.
3) If no vibration, then all is fine. But look at the packing (when it is in the water)- you might have to lift the rear piece of flooring to see it, or maybe just by looking under the engine cover. This packing is right where the drive shaft goes through the hull. You should see a slight drip every now and then coming into the boat. If too much or too little, that can be a DIY adjustment. I mention checking this packing because you might have damaged it by running it dry.

[bryce2320]

Damn I feel like a jackass, ill drop it in tonight and do what u said. Hopefully it'll b ok. If not it'll b 2 weeks and probable $1500 later

[bryce2320]

Lesson learned! Never ever put the boat in gear off the trailer! I watered the strut while my gf put it n gear and sounded great! Couldn't even hear the prop spinning! Hopefully Friday there'll b no vibrations and we can retry last weekend!! Thanks for all your guys help. The boat would've sat for 2 weeks for nothing!

[dingleberry]

Great - now go have fun!

[boatwakes]

Never feel like a jackass because you asked the question and if you never ask you never know. Have fun!