How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

[Lou C]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Yes take a boating course
Get a new prop have that one repaired as a spare
Learn how to change the prop put some OMC triple guard grease on the prop shaft, keep spare cotter pins for the prop nut and a prop wrench on the boat
GET A DEPTH FINDER......I have a Garmin 441s GPS/Sounder, it is very accurate and gives a good picture of what the bottom looks like. I boat on the North Shore of Long Island, we have mostly deep water, but 7-8 feet water depth changes with the change from low to high tide so you need to know where you are. We also have rocks, the South Shore has sand, no rocks but much more shallow spots and tidal depth changes (not as much as the North though).

Keep in mind that you have a OMC Cobra, that has not been made for years...if you trash that drive, it's not that easy to find another one...so be mindful of the water depth. Personally the only boat I run without a depth finder is a 10' Walker Bay dinghy with a Suzuki 2.5 hp outboard. And even that one I am going to find a way to mount up removable one.....

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Absolutely a ton of great help here!
In terms of the drive and taking care of it, what sorts of things can I do besides preventative measures like a depth finder and using the proper oil?

Also is there something a lot (A LOT) cheaper than that Garmin 441s that is worth buying? I just don't have $400

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

If you just want a cheap finder, you can get them really cheap.

http://www.iboats.com/Garmin-Echo-1...2592609--session_id.347399768--view_id.735335

Sorry about the other link...my bad!

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Just to add on the last few threads - I don't know about California and it's lakes, but around here, they start draining the lakes for the winter run off. First hand experience, I've run aground in the middle of wide open water. As others have suggested: Replace the prop - take a course - and if you're going to boat year round, get a chart of the lake. A chart is like an auto map except it shows depths. Especially helpful in rivers. A depth finder is not gonna help much at 20 mph.

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

I just bought this, hopefully it's the right one. I just matched the diameter and pitch from the stamp on the damaged one. I used the iboats selection menu as well of course (OMC sterndrive>outboard marine cobra 2.3L 1988-1991 128hp)

Apparently it was the last one in stock too
Turning Point Hustler 3-blade Aluminum 13-3/4x15 Standard Rotation Prop LE1/LE2-1315 - Hustler Aluminum 2143 1511 - iboats

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Apparently it was the last one in stock too

LOL...it still says that. Marketing ploy?

 

[MRS]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

I have my props re done for 65 bucks and carry it for a spare if you ever really destroy a prop on the water you will not be going any where unless you are towed in. The prop you ordered are nice working props you did order the hub kit with it also, you will need one to mount the prop.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

you did order the hub kit with it also, you will need one to mount the prop.

That's why I would just get a Michigan prop.

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

LOL...it still says that. Marketing ploy?

It didn't say that when I bought it, it just said out of stock after I bought it, maybe they found another one haha

And yes I did get the hub kit with it

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

That's why I would just get a Michigan prop.

Better quality?

 

[tazrig]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Same numbers as on your old one. That'll work fine. :bounce:

 

[MRS]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Better quality?

No you just do not need hub kit with it.

 

[Lou C]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Absolutely a ton of great help here!
In terms of the drive and taking care of it, what sorts of things can I do besides preventative measures like a depth finder and using the proper oil?

Also is there something a lot (A LOT) cheaper than that Garmin 441s that is worth buying? I just don't have $400

You can get sounders a lot cheaper than that, before the Garmin I had a cheap Humminbird basic sounder/fishfinder that worked fine for years. I wanted GPS and DSC hook up with my VHF in case I had to call the Coast Guard (if you use a DSC radio, and have to call the CG, having GPS relays your position to them, good to have in an emergency).

As far as the Cobra, regular maintenance and learning the quirks of them is what you can do. For one, you have to pay attention to how it shifts. If the shift cable gets corroded inside or it gets way out of adjustment, then it will not shift right. It may not want to come out of gear to Neutral, or it will jump out of gear. Either way its bad, the former is a safety risk and can cause a bad accident, the latter will round off the dog clutches and result in the need for replacing the dog clutch and lower gears (expen$ive). A properly adjusted Cobra with a good shift cable, and idle set low enough, will shift very easily into and out of gear. Mine shifts with 2 fingers. I got the manuals and special tools needed for the adjustment and taught myself how to do it. It takes time but is not that difficult.
The rest is regular maintenance. All sterndrives need more work and maintenance than an outboard or inboard power package. I pull the drive once a year as per the manual to check the bellows, u-joints, gimble bearing and input shaft seal. I also check the engine alignment, grease the driveshaft splines, u-joints and gimble and change the gear oil at the same time. The only repairs my drive has needed over the years were replacing a few seals, one adjustment of the shift cable and the rest, regular maintenance. No complaints.

I'm in a salt water region and my boat is moored in salt water 6 months out of the year. Either you learn how to maintain them or you will get out of boating real fast because the hassles will make it not fun. Keeping them working well is much more challenging here than in freshwater. You either learn how to do it, pay to get it done, or get another boat with an outboard. Outboards are very expensive, but do not need as much maintenance. Because I can do the maintenance myself, I can stick with I/O. If I could not, then I'd have switched to OB power a long time ago.