can a prop hit the hull??

[Shamus]

need a little help here guys...

Chp is getting me a new prop and when I was under the boat confirming the existing prop I noticed a scuff on the hull directly under my prop.

I bought the boat last fall and did a thorough inspection of it, as the chip is right above the prop I may have missed it if it was there.

What would this be from? I am packing about 2700 lbs of ballast and 3 people and two kids generally for weight...there is no way the prop could be hitting the hull is there?

Only other things I can think of is that maybe the previous owner tried to put too large a prop on or I wrapped something around mine and it hit the hull???

any thoughts??

[somebodyelse5]

if you hit the prop on something and really bent it, ripped it up, it could have hit the hull. but other wise there shouldnt be a way for that to happen without you noticing some serious damage.

[Shamus]

thats what I thought. There isn't a nick or scratch on the prop, I have never hit anything...maybe it was there when I bought the boat...

[dogbert]

I'd have someone check the shaft alignment to makes sure the shaft isn't bent. I takes a lot of force to make the prop hit the hull like that. If you'd have hit something, you'd know it.

[Shamus]

That's a good plan, I will do that. There is no vibration or anything when I have no weight in it. When its loaded right up there is a bit of a vibration just as I pull my rider out of the hole (surfing). Is it possible to tourque the boat up enough for the prop to hit the hull? There is 3/4 of an inch of clearance between the prop and the hull... The reason I am getting a new prop is that it has a 515 on it now which is way too much top end, 47 mph easy. Its a little too much work pulling someone out of the hole with 2500 extra pounds in there.

[spyderwebb]

I'd venture to say that something wrapped around the prop and did that damage, and apparantly spun off before you got it out of the water. From the looks of the marks I would have expected you could hear whatever it was rubbing against the hull.

[zany]

You could have run over a log or some debris that could been wedged into the hull?

[dogbert]

1500 lbs is about the limit on your boat for ballast. That's probably why you're having that much vibration.

I've got the 525 on mine and it's perfect. You might play with your ballast and people placement for surfing.. I know NICKYPOO has a very similar boat to you and he's really got his surf wake dialed in.

[Shamus]

thats the weirdest thing, I never heard or felt anything. Could have been there I guess.

1500lbs...yikes...I am packing about 2700 before people. I have the wave dialed in pretty good. I have a buddy who has an avalanche and he likes my wave better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odHJP...eature=channel

[Coop]

I'd have someone check the shaft alignment to makes sure the shaft isn't bent. I takes a lot of force to make the prop hit the hull like that. If you'd have hit something, you'd know it.

I went over a submerged rock at Powell last year doing 25-30 mph, and it was enough to push the prop into the bottom of the hull and take a gouge out of it (no leak -- didn't penetrate the hull). Along with the prop, the shaft and strut both had to be replaced because they were bent, so if you think it may be prop contact, I second dogbert's recommendation.

By the way, that's a noise I NEVER want to hear again. Makes me sick just thinking about it again.

[Coop]

Just looked at your picture again, and it looks very similar to how mine looked (although my gouge was a little bigger). That makes me think it was prop contact, but you definitely would have heard it if you did it. It's in a spot that's pretty easy to miss on an inspection -- normally you get low enough to inspect the prop/shaft/rudder, but you really have to get under there to see the hull right above the prop.

[chpthril]

That's a good plan, I will do that. There is no vibration or anything when I have no weight in it. When its loaded right up there is a bit of a vibration just as I pull my rider out of the hole (surfing). Is it possible to tourque the boat up enough for the prop to hit the hull? There is 3/4 of an inch of clearance between the prop and the hull... The reason I am getting a new prop is that it has a 515 on it now which is way too much top end, 47 mph easy. Its a little too much work pulling someone out of the hole with 2500 extra pounds in there.

If you have a 515, then the 911 should be perfect! They are both 13" diameters, so the only change is pitch and cup.

I'll get it ready to ship out!

[Shamus]

If you have a 515, then the 911 should be perfect! They are both 13" diameters, so the only change is pitch and cup.

I'll get it ready to ship out!

PM sent.

Thanks Mike.

[NICKYPOO]

With the inconsistency of the of the shape of the gouge, I would say a log or branch maybe got smashed between the prop and hull. I would think if was the prop you would have a serious bend in your shaft and strut. Still would be good to have it checked for alignment, at least to get it out of the back of your mind.

So far as your surf wake goes, it doesn't look like you need any help from me. It looks pretty nice. My only inquiry would be regarding the length vs height conundrum. Almost looks as though you could gain some height by sacrificing some length. How much front weight are you running? Like I said, it looks pretty dialed already and if it's what you like, don't mess with it.

[Shamus]

With the inconsistency of the of the shape of the gouge, I would say a log or branch maybe got smashed between the prop and hull. I would think if was the prop you would have a serious bend in your shaft and strut. Still would be good to have it checked for alignment, at least to get it out of the back of your mind.

So far as your surf wake goes, it doesn't look like you need any help from me. It looks pretty nice. My only inquiry would be regarding the length vs height conundrum. Almost looks as though you could gain some height by sacrificing some length. How much front weight are you running? Like I said, it looks pretty dialed already and if it's what you like, don't mess with it.

Thanks Nick, I have an integrated bow sac full at about 650 lbs, then a 340 on the floor just by my feet. I actually got rid of that 340 and the wave was a bit higher. I run a 900 in my locker and a 540 and a 340 on the left side of the engine. It is acutually not too bad for seating as I still have my whole back seat and the passenger seats (and the bow of course). Still just messing with that extra 340, I think I may be at the point where it just doesn't get any bigger. Seems to be anyway, it wouldn't hurt my feelings to get rid of that extra 340 altogether...lots of weight for a 21i. Depends on how many people come. Agian, thanks for your input.

I will get the shaft checked, it is going in this week (managed to fry my tower lights) and moving my batteries to the right side. They will check the shaft. It must have happened before I bought the boat, there is no vibration or anything now. It only had 60 hours on the boat last fall when I bought it and it came with an extra prop...I think the previous owner may have scared himself. He did have a shallow lake...