Please help me recover from a bad day

[sidechoke67]

ugh. I launched my new boat for the first time today. The launch, and trial run went really well. However, I screwed up big time on the retrieve. I was approaching the dock, I decided I was coming in too fast, and tried to drift into reach of the dock. I ended up drifting over some rocks, without realizing it. When I decided to put it back in gear, and try the approach again, I destroyed my prop, shoved the boat into the dock, chipping the fiberglass, and bent the rudder on my lower unit a bit.

So...I called around, and it looks like I can get a replacement prop for about $170. My questions are more around the chipped fiberglass, and bent rudder. The rudder doesn't seem to be bent too much - so, I'm hoping it won't pull terribly. Any ideas on what can be done about it if it ends up being a big deal?

What can I do about the chipped fiberglass? I assume I want to take it to a glass place eventually. Can I fill it with caulk in the meantime, or will that make it harder to re-glass later? Should I just put duct tape over it until I can have it professionally repaired? Is it really bad to have that pink stuff exposed?

It was a really fun day on the water before that. I know this is a childish statement, but it doesn't seem fair that a split second bad call on my part can result in so much damage! :-(

Thanks for any advice!

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Holy cow!!!!

I feel for you man...

Yea you gotta watch where you navigate.

First the "rudder: is called a Skeg.

That is cast aluminum. If you try to bend it back it will most likely break. If not during bending then soon after in the water and will loose it.

2 options I see:

1. Cut it off and...
a. leave it off (Race boast cut theirs off to reduce drag.) Down side you lose low speed steering and harder to steer if not under power.
b. Have it Welded it back on straight.

2. Use it as is.

___________________


The good news is, looking at the pic it doesn't look like you broke the fiberglass, just chipped the gel coat. No worries. Wont effect anything other than looks.

So my suggestion first thing I'd do, put a new prop on it and take it out, then decide if the skeg needs repaired or if you can live with it until you can get it in the shop.

But your really not in as bad shape as it probably seems to be to you.

If you think thats a bad day, look at my avatar... that is me last summer standing in water patrol boat while my jet ski takes a look at the bottom of the lake behind us. LOL

2 weeks later my friend rear ended my boat on our way to the lake..... LOL

those are bad days..... LOL

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

I just bought a similar replacement prop from an online place called dans discount propellors, got there quick, works awesome and was less than 80 bucks

I agree with the above poster on the skeg and i would want to get the cosmetic dmage repaired.

A bad day on the water is still a good day

 

[5150abf]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

I think everyone jacks up there boat the first time out, I know I did.

Your skeg really doesn't look that bad and I wouldn't do anything with it, it doesn't look bent enough to do anything bad.

With the prop looking like that I certainly wouldn't run the boat till that is replaced, you really did a number on it, it is a horrible sound isn't it.
And glass isn't my thing so i will leave that to others but I am sure it is an easy fix

You live you learn and in a boat you will learn something every single time you go out for a long time.

Don't let this get to you too bad, it really isn't that bad, a prop can be replaced and glass can be fixxed.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Those are some killer rocks that close to the dock!

The skeg looks like it's bent bad enough to affect your steering. I would try to straighten it out. If it cracks or breaks have it welded back on straight. easy to do with a TIG welder, shouldn't cost much if you have to get it done by somebody. Sand the welds down, hit it with some aluminum prep, then epoxy primer, then black paint and it'll look like new.

You broke away the gel coat and exposed the fiberglass next to your fuel filler. DO NOT put any kind of silicone sealer on it! It'll leave a residue, nothing will stick to silicone and it'll make it much harder to repair later.

Exposed fiberglass will absorb water. Hopefully not much water comes up by your fuel filler. Spilling fuel on the exposed fiberglass will probably not do it much good either!

I would get the broken gelcoat fixed as soon as you can. Not sure how handy you are, but it's not hard to spray gel-coat. Spectrum gelcoat (http://www.spectrumcolor.com/default_main.asp) sells pre-matched gelcoat colors, it also has instructions on how to apply it. You basically spray it on a little thicker than you want then sand it down till it blends with the existing gelcoat.

Good luck!

 

[QC]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

You can also patch even a spot that big with a simple Glecoat repair kit. They're about $35 I think and you can start over if you make a mistakle pretty easily. I've made some fairly decent looking repairs with one, even with tough to match colors.

I would try and straight the skeg too. I would use something to act lik an anvil and try and use a fairly large faced mallet and hit the skeg with the anvil type thing behind it. Less likely to break that way. Goooooo sloooooooow . . .

How'd the boat run with that prop? RPM at WOT etc.? If you can share that info we can help you decide if the one you had was right to begin with . . . BTW, this is why you carry two props, so when you do this on the way out you still get to boat that day . . . Good luck!!!

Oh, oh . . . this is when you should go ahead and run the drive almost all of the way up to get out of a jam. With the drive tilted high enough the prop cannot hit the rocks without the skeg protecting it some. NO REVERSE if you can avoid it . . .

 

[cbavier]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Well just my two cents worth but I would try to run with the skeg the way it is and see how it effects the performance. I would be afraid to beat on it. With my luck I'd break it. Your Marina or Dealer may be able to help you with that little problem.

The Prop can easily be repaired and you really should have a spare prop anyway. I Boats sells new props as well as Michigan Wheel, Solace and several others through I Boats. You can also buy direct from Michigan Wheel but the price is about the same by the time you pay the shipping. Buy a new prop and keep the repaired Prop for a spare. The Repair should run you about $50 by the way it looks. Then it will be as good as new.

The Fiberglass should be repaired as soon as possible. As you can have done or do it yourself.

Rocks are hard on boats, skegs and props as you now well know.

http://www.dansdiscountprops.com/BuyNow/Michigan.cfm#Vortex

 

[ziggy]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

after prop repair or replacment, i'd try runnin it and see if the bent skeg effects ya. mine is bent also, maybe not as much as yers, but it is bent w/o issues.
is it the angle of the picture, or do ya really not have a splined washer and tab washer in place, the part that locks the prop nut to the shaft? it looks like just the nut......

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Wow, thanks a lot everyone. You all make this an amazing forum.

My old prop was 14 1/2 X 19. I never got to run it with WOT - this is a new boat for me, and today was my first time in the water with it. However, for the 1/2 hour test drive, it handled great.

I called my local Glastron service dept., he recommended a Volvo replacement prop for my Michigan Wheel. They would have to order it - for the same price it is listed on iboats store. For the same price (and free shipping) I will probably order through iboats and have it delivered to my house.

This is the replacement prop that I will likely order, unless anyone has any other advice. The boat is an '01 Glastron 175, with a 3.0 L Volvo Penta.

http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/Vo...18867/?**********=762236311&*******=200437335

Thanks for the Spectrum / gel coat repair kit advice. Spectrum color has a gel coat repair kit for my year/color boat for $20. I should probably go ahead and order a case of them... :redface:

Yes, I had took the outer washer and cotter pin out so I could get a better look at the props serial # .

And I don't think/hope the skeg is bent as badly as it looks in those pictures. In any case, I'll try running it first and see how bad it is before trying to do anything else to my boat.

Thanks again! Any other advice is definitely welcome!

 

[Coors]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Glad it was not major,
Next learning experience is;
Cross winds at the ramp
Current is running sideways.

It takes practice, repeatedly.
You will master it.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Let's put this in prospective. Any day that you are looking at the green side of the grass is a good day. Any day you can wipe your own butt is a better day. There are many that can not fulfill the last two requirements for a good day. The rest is only money.

I hope your days go better and you are on the water soon!

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Hang in there sc67, you could have done much worse, I know I have. I would trash that prop and get a Comp prop for a spare...cheap and lightweight. I would try to bend the skeg back. If you break it, then put on a Skegguard replacement.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

I only have a few things to add other than my sympathies: 1) remember never try to grab the dock or let someone jump for it, reach out for it, etc.. Really bad injuries can result. If you're having a rough docking, sometimes people will try to do these things to help you out. Keep an eye on your passengers and make sure they don't and/or know not to. 2) Don't be a "rager". Hopefully, you kept your cool. Don't be one of those guys who screams at everyone (esp. their significant other) for smacking the dock. There's only one person controlling the boat, and the blame rests solely on them. If you smack it, learn from it, but don't go nuts. 3) Only approach it as fast as you want to hit it and you'll be in good shape...

Oh yeah, and you might want to let the other iboats members from Rochester know when you'll be at the ramp...J/K

 

[Coors]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Let's put this in prospective. Any day that you are looking at the green side of the grass is a good day. Any day you can wipe your own butt is a better day. There are many that can not fulfill the last two requirements for a good day. The rest is only money.

I hope your days go better and you are on the water soon!

You have life down pat.

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Glad it was not major,
Next learning experience is;
Cross winds at the ramp
Current is running sideways.

It takes practice, repeatedly.
You will master it.

You got that right!!!

Also
Loading during an approaching storm.
Morons blazing through no wake zone at the ramp at WOT

Nothing better than the sound of fiberglass on metal and breaking plastic tail lights as your boat spins side ways on your trailer while you load it. LOL


Come on who hasn't done it?
If not, then you haven't been on the water enough...... lol

 

[cbear34]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Not that bad. A good learning experience. Just remember nobody got hurt!
Agree with other posters about trying the boat with the skeg as is. If it is a problem you can install a Skeggard. I have one on my drive. I replaced my skeg which was much worse than yours. I would be very careful about trying to bend it back. You don't want to break off to much or a skeggard can not be installed.
As far as the prop you might just want to trash that one and write it off to a learning experience.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate event. 'bout like me first time out a couple years ago. Hit the prop on something during a shallow water trailering as I was comming in. My first instinct was I hit my trailer bout I was about 10 feet from it. Slammed it in reverse and wouldn't you knos I hit the same darn thing. Then I managed to get the boat on the trailer crocked.... Bad day but I now laugh about it.

If you choose to straighten the skeg, you can place a 3/4" plywood on each side and use a C clamp to tighten down. This will help. Don't hit with a hammer, but you can tap lightley with a dead blow hammer to help out of needed for the last little adjustments.

 

[dave11]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

You can buy a cover for the skeg. It is like caps on teeth.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

What a Bummer.. bring oars with you.. if you get close to anything shut off motor and row in..

 

[cbavier]

Re: Please help me recover from a bad day

What a Bummer.. bring oars with you.. if you get close to anything shut off motor and row in..

You don't row a boat like that. It's not a row boat.