Hit a Sandbar

[viper1216]

Hey guys,

Quick question. I was out in the bay yesterday and bringing my boat to my new slip. I was unfamiliar with the cove entrance. I knew there was a sandbar there, but didn't realize exactly where it was. Well, I found it. I was in a no wake zone going only going about 5mph or so. When I beached, it was enough to stop the engine. (3.0 Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 2 aluminum Solex prop). I brought the outdrive up and was able to paddle my way into deeper water. Engine started right back up without any issue. I continued to head in, but it felt like it had more of a vibration. This could have been completely in my head. Vibration cleared up if I goosed the throttle a bit, but I was still in the no wake so couldn't really open it up. When I docked, I took a look at the prop as best I could. I have a swim platform so had to look through the little hand hold hole. Looked ok and nothing bent that I could see. It was soft sand. So curious what the odds are that I really messed something up or if I am just being paranoid. Going to be a real PITA to pull it back out of the water as I was launching it to the slip for the season.

Thanks!!!

 

[bajaunderground]

Probably didn't screw anything up...if you cannot confirm the props condition, solex 3 blade aluminum are cheap?1

 

[Starcraft5834]

Prop get bent? if not, you did not sustain much of a hit.... your fine.... if it's bent, take prop to prop shop and straighten it back out.... if you suspect your prop shaft is damaged.. you can check it by spinning the prop.. focus your eye on the little milled hole in the center of the prop shaft... while spinning it, if the milled hole "wobbles" it's bent.... if not, your fine..... get a fish finder with a depth alarm , if you already have one and did not set it to go off when u get shallow..... shame on u

 

[alldodge]

Not worried so much with the prop, if there is an issue you will notice when up on plane. Replacing a prop in the water is easy, just a float/life jacket and a wrench. Can do it while floating around with a beer

I would be more concerned with the impeller. If it sucked up some sand it may be damaged. Just watch the temp for the first few times out

 

[crazy charlie]

Can you reach down and feel the skeg?? Possibly bent/chipped/broken

 

[viper1216]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Feeling much better about it. From what I can see of prop, it looked ok. I little paint chipped off, but it doesn't look bent. Again though, I have a big swim platform off the back of the boat so I can really see the prop, or reach down to the skeg. I can only look through a hand hole in the platform, but everything looked ok. As far as sand in the impeller, I was worried about that too. Once I got back into deeper water, I let it run for a minute to make sure it was flushed a bit and throttled it a little in neutral. Was ok for the trip in of about 5 more minutes, but will keep an eye on the temp. The boat has a depth gauge on it, but it literally went from 6ft to 2ft in a second. I do have a fish finder/plotter, but didn't have it with me. I was just planning on a quick trip to the slip. Oops