UPDATE: Hit a sand bar.... Damage Done

[truckermatt]

Hey all,

I wish i could be posting here on better terms, but oh well.

Tonight i took the boat out on the lake and the water was like glass, and just a perfect ride.... boat runs great, my brand new (just installed today) prop really helped my holeshot....
But unfortunately. i came into counter with a sand bar that was near the shore.... My prop is now junk and my skeg needs a little help too. The motor never stopped running until i shut it down, (i was only going about 10 mph) and then i heard i thud in the bow, and then by the stern, so i killed the gas ASAP and pulled up the drive (which was all the way down)...

I changed props on the water back to my original one... (thank goodness i has it) and then we putted back home at 10mph til be got back..

The boat still runs fine, and i dont hear any real abnormal noises... so i am hoping that the drive is still OK.

Here are some pictures of the drive..../prop

BTW, the hull didnt get hurt, which i am vey glad about.

let me know what to do.... Should i call my insurance co. or should i pay outright... I am not worried about the prop.... mostly the skeg and making sure the drive is still balanced and usable...

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Skeg dont look that bad all things considered I guess, man that prop is whacked.

I do alot of boating at night on Michigan and I always stand up and look over the window glass to help see better, that little glare from the all around makes me a bit nervous.

 

[Showtime22]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Is there a chunk of the skag off? It doesn't look horrible. I'd say file it down the sharp edges and paint it. Hopefully the aluminum prop took the brunt.

 

[studdy05]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

ild stick something white under the prop area tonight and see if any oil drip on it ... possibly a seal could have given way...but i agree with the others that skeg is not hurt and the soft aluminum in the prop took the energy most likely...

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

If you didn't have any vibrations that weren't there before then the drive is probably alright.Spin the prop over and look closely to see if the prop shaft may have gotten bent.Sorry to hear it was a new prop but luckly with it being aluminum it may have saved your drive from bad internal damage.A stainless prop might have trashed the drive.As far as your skeg most prop shops can repair them like new.

 

[Showtime22]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

You could probably put that prop on Ebay...just be sure to list it with a small scratch.

 

[meals on reelsjello2]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

i did the same thing not to long ago .....i just filed down the rugh spots on the skag.....i dont know if you wand to do it but i even filed my prop it had bis chunks missing but i got it ballenceed prety good ...i sharpend the edjes to a rasors edge and the funny thing is...is that it works beter now than before... when i get me a new prop im sharpening it to LOL

at least you still had your old on cause i didnt and was 10 miles from the dock

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Well, i guess the pictures dont do it justice.... the skeg used to be lower than the prop and, would protect to prop... but now the prop is expose and is lower than the skeg...


has anyone ever tried one of these guards?
http://shop.keelshield.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=15

I figure it would be cheaper than haveing one welded on, and i could to it myself...


What methods could i do my self. to test to make sure the drive is balanced and still good...

When i drove it back to the dock, there was to shaking and the drive/steering is still very tight.... the tilt/trim still works also.....

I just want to make sure all is well before using the boat again... Otherwise i would take it to the shop for looking at.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

by the way, i am not sure if i am in the right section... if not could you please move the thread... ( maybe to the boat topics and questions)

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

I don't see any reason why you should't install a fin gaurd if thats what you want to do. I have never heard of them causing any harm.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

The Skeg Guards work fine, I have installed many of them. Put it on and draw a line across the top. You may have to grind it down (thickness of skeg) to get it to go up where is should. Just take your time and use the enclosed locktite on the bolts.

Sand Bar? The damage looks more like a rock bar.

 

[gostephen]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

i would defiantly repair that skeg, your missing at least half of it.
sorry to hear about the new prop but its junk.

you could do a skeg repair like a "skeg guard" or the "blackfin"

i used the "blackfin" skeg repair it uses a pretty strong adhesive, but i had alot more skeg left.

 

[Robert D]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Repair the skeg. Replace the prop. Boat to your hearts content for another month or two of nice weather. Schedule with a shop for late November to go through the drive....the 'off season and prices are better. I did the same 2 years ago, and several weeks later the motor lost 60% power. Tore it down, and behold....the impact wasted a bearing. The wasted bearing took out the forward gear. Couldn't believe it still ran! Cost? A $300 driveshaft mislabeled for $99.....dealer still let me have it, as it was tagged wrong.....$90 for the gear, about 60 for the bearings. Shop told me they are hungry in the winter for work, paricularly around Christmas. They'd rebuild it for $200 at that time of year. In May or June? $800, non-negotiable

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Yeah, i figured the prop is junk to begin with.... I am going to call some shops and see how much it would be to get welded first....

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

I agree with the new prop and fixed skeg..... but after it happened, i may or may not have heard an abnormal noise when driving at about 1200 rpms..... (maybe i was just mad and didnt notice it before)

But the drive shifts into gear find and the motor run the same as before...
I just dont want to wreck anything (more that it)

 

[meals on reelsjello2]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

lookin at hem girls on the beach aint worth it huh ...LOL...im sorry i know this is serious but i couldnt contain myself

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Well,

I took the boat to the shop and, the prop shaft if bent 5/1000 of an inch, and they are testing the gear for metal... will know in a day or two what the total hit will be.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Do I say OUCH now or wait till the bill comes in? That was an expensive glance at the girls on the beach!

 

[robjen1019]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Got to love those al props. If it was ss, you would be looking at new gear case most likely.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

Re: Hit a sand bar.... skeg is toast

well, i wasnt even looking at the girls at the beach, thankfully there was no one around.. it was at 7:00 pm

I will probably handle this one through insurance one i get my detailed estimate back, (once the know is the gear are truely bad or not, from the machine shop)

other wise i am thinking of just buying an SEI drive like this.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/Merchant2/...&Category_Code=MercruiserAlphaLowerSterndrive

But if i use insurance they will rebuild my OEM drive... which is OK too.