Hit log on maiden voyage.

[r4000]

Problem 1 - I took my boat out for its maiden voyage and hit a log. The prop looks fine when I pulled it out but obviously something's out of kilter as the boat vibrates when I try to bring it up over 1800 rpms. The front fin (of the three up front) is slightly bent. Is this something you can fix yourself or must this be taken to a shop? Any suggestions. Problem 2 when idling below 1800 rpm there is loud squeling noise that goes away when the boat is under power above 1800 rpm. It doesn't go away if you put it in neutral and gas it over 1800 rpms. Any ideas. :x

[r4000]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

THis is a further update. I read some of the other posts on hitting objects. There is no observable damage to any part other than the slightly bent front fin. There are no marks or observable damage to prop.

[gride300]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

you probably bent the shaft. you should have it checked if youre experiencing these problems. when you hit something you generally mess up the prop and/or bend the shaft and screw up the fins. i feel your pain. we were on one of the first rides in my buddy's brand new from the factory 210 and i was pulling him and hit a 25' long submerged log. it was winter time too. we stopped and looked around after and didnt see anything anywhere that we could have hit so i finished pulling him and then on the way back home we saw it just before the boat went into safe mode. luckily we just bent the prop.

[Onevw2go]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

I'd put a strait edge on the shaft? If the log hit the shaft, might have bounced UNDER the prop and rudder? Just a guess at this end? Good luck.

[Onevw2go]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

Check the shaft support piece(brass looking thin right before the prop) see if that might have gotten bent yo the left or right, throwing the shaft out of alignment? again, just a guess?

[r4000]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

I thought using the straight edge was a good idea so I tried it and all looks well. Granted a 1000th is often hard to pick out but it looked out. We did pull some wood debris out of shaft support piece where the shaft went into the bearing. On some closer inspection it looks as though two of the propeller blades have been slightly bent. Is there a way to check the alignment of the shaft support piece. BTW thanks for your help. Maybe this won't be such disaster. But who knows.

[tourpro]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

Any machine shop can check the shaft for staightness within .0005" in under 1/2hr if you remove it from the boat. While you're there they can also machine you a new one from your existing shaft in 2 hrs. Im positive that would be far cheaper than calling CC for a new one.

Having said that, it sounds like your bent prop is all thats going to be a tough repair. The bent tracking fin can be fixed quite easily with a rubber mallet but I would take it off the boat first. BTW, don't heat it in an attempt to make it easier to bend back into shape. Its soft enough as it is.

[8122pbrainard]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

r, The shaft doesn't need to come out of the boat to check it. A dial indicator can be clamped to the strut and then adjusted to check both the forward shaft as well as aft of the strut. Just because the prop doesn't show any damage, it doesn't mean it's ok. The prop shop will be able to tell. Send it in. The straight edge idea isn't a good idea. You can't check the full shaft length but even more important is you can't check aft of the strut. This is usually where the shaft is bent. Get some help with a dial indicator. A engine to shaft/strut alignment is always a good idea and part of that procedure will also include checking for a bent shaft forward of the strut.

The squealing noise could be a loose belt. Check them.

There is a very good pictorial thread on alignment over on CCfan. I'll see if I can find it and come back with a link.

Here it is: http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum...p;KW=alignment
It is done by Eric who owns Fantastic Finnish Marine. His specialty is marine transmissions.

[Mikeski]

RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

It's pretty unlikely you bent the shaft without destroying the prop. I have had damaged props that had no visible damage. Put your spare prop on and see if the vibration goes away.

[8122pbrainard]

Re: RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

It's pretty unlikely you bent the shaft without destroying the prop. I have had damaged props that had no visible damage. Put your spare prop on and see if the vibration goes away.

Unlikely - yes. Possible - absolutely. I have seen it. A alignment procedure will tell you.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Re: RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

change the prop and you should be good to go - does not take much to put the vibration through the boat

[8122pbrainard]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

change the prop and you should be good to go - does not take much to put the vibration through the boat

I'd rather go the safe route and do a alignment check as well as having the prop checked out. The alignment only takes about a hour and then you will not run the risk of tearing up the trans. A trans rebuild is going for about 1K depending on the model and how much of the work you do yourself. A misaligned shaft can take out a trans in less than 5 hours of run time.

[Mikeski]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

Do you trust your dealer???

I have known dealers to replace shaft, strut and prop as well as the alignment whenever the boat owner mentioned they hit something. I picked up my used 1995 SN from one such dealer after the previous owner had such a service done. Funny thing, they could not seem to find the bad shaft when I asked them to produce the parts they supposedly replaced. That's a clean and quick $3k for the service department that most insurance companies don't challenge.

These boats are tougher than most people think, the prop is always the weakest link, that's by design.

[TravisFling]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Hit log on maiden voyage.

Correct Mikeski... it's like a aluminum prop on a bass boat... better to trash a prop than replace a tranny. (I think that's some type of broadway quote...)

[r4000]

Update - Intersting development - all seems to be ok with only a new prop needed for striking the log. However, I am told now that PCM has no answer for the squealing transmission noise and that it (the transmission) may have to be replaced.