Todd Fiore
New Member
- Jun 8, 2019
- 21
- Boat Info
- 2007 Sea Ray 240 350 Magnum
2005 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
- Engines
- 350 Magnum Bravo Three
Hello all,
My wife and I were on the boat yesterday and all seemed well until about 30 minutes into driving we noticed the boat slowed a little and began vibrating. We immediately stopped the boat, shut it down, and looked at the prop to make sure we didn't hit or catch something. The prop/s looked fine based on what we could see. I started the engine up and checked all my gauges and there didn't look to be a problem. As I gave it gas the engine sounded like it was working harder than it needed to and starts vibrating/shaking above 2000 RPMs. If I kept the engine below 2000 RPMs it seemed ok. Again, no audible alerts, all gauges looked good, etc. We drove real slow back to the dock and pulled the boat out of the water. With our limited knowledge the drive looked ok. I thought maybe one of the props were bent. Maybe it is and I just can't tell. There was a lot of debris on Folsom Lake yesterday.
Here's the backstory that lead up to this.
Wife and I bought the boat a little over a week ago. We didn't test it on the water before we purchased but ran the engine with muffs on and it fired right up and sounds amazing. All gauges work and seems mechanically sounds. We took it on Folsom Lake last week for the first time and it ran like a dream. We were on the water for an hour or 2. We put it back on the trailer and took it home.
Here's where some of our troubles started. When backing the boat into my driveway, the the fin just below the props hit ground/concrete. I pulled forward and corrected and parked the boat in the driveway. Almost immediately after I noticed a couple small drops of gear lube dripping near the prop. There wasn't a puddle on the ground but just a couple drops and a couple drops near the prop. I wiped away the lube and moved the boat couple inches so there was a clean spot just below the prop. If it was going to continue leaking I wanted to have a clean spot to start with. The next day, no lube is leaking. Nothing on the ground and nothing near the prop. Both places were dry. I then connected the muffs and started the engine and it seemed to run great as usual. I shut it down and let it sit for another day. The next day both places were dry. No signs of a leak.
The next day I put the boat on the lake again and it was running great. However about an hour into our boat ride an audible alert sounded and the digital gauge is showing a "system fault" and message saying gear lube is low. We immediately docked the boat, trailered it, and parked it at home safely in the driveway. I checked the lube reservoir and it was empty. I filled it back up, hooked up the muffs, and started the engine. It started right up and was running great. I shut it down and let the boat sit another day so I can check for leaks later. The next day the ground below and prop are both dry . No sign of a leak. I checked the reservoir and was still filled with a maybe a slight dip. I figured the lube must have found it's way down to the areas that needed it? The next day we took it back on the lake and drove it for about 30 minutes when we noticed the slight slow-down and vibration. That's when we stopped the boat to check for any prop damage. None that I can tell so we slowly drove the boat back to the dock while staying under 2000 RPMs. I did take it a little higher than 2000 and it does begin to vibrate but seems to vibrate more when turning left and right. Driving straight seemed to reduce the vibrating while above 2000 RPMs.
The boat is now home and there are no signs of a leak but there seems to be a slight loss of lube from the reservoir in the engine compartment.
So this is where I am. Before I take it into the mechanic, is there anything I can do to fix the problem and may not require a mechanic? I'm not mechanic but I'm mechanically inclined. I've replaced a starter on my other boat among other things but have not dealt with anything like this.
Thank you so much for your time.
Todd
2007 Sea Ray 240 Sundeck
Mercuiser 350 MAG Bravo Three
My wife and I were on the boat yesterday and all seemed well until about 30 minutes into driving we noticed the boat slowed a little and began vibrating. We immediately stopped the boat, shut it down, and looked at the prop to make sure we didn't hit or catch something. The prop/s looked fine based on what we could see. I started the engine up and checked all my gauges and there didn't look to be a problem. As I gave it gas the engine sounded like it was working harder than it needed to and starts vibrating/shaking above 2000 RPMs. If I kept the engine below 2000 RPMs it seemed ok. Again, no audible alerts, all gauges looked good, etc. We drove real slow back to the dock and pulled the boat out of the water. With our limited knowledge the drive looked ok. I thought maybe one of the props were bent. Maybe it is and I just can't tell. There was a lot of debris on Folsom Lake yesterday.
Here's the backstory that lead up to this.
Wife and I bought the boat a little over a week ago. We didn't test it on the water before we purchased but ran the engine with muffs on and it fired right up and sounds amazing. All gauges work and seems mechanically sounds. We took it on Folsom Lake last week for the first time and it ran like a dream. We were on the water for an hour or 2. We put it back on the trailer and took it home.
Here's where some of our troubles started. When backing the boat into my driveway, the the fin just below the props hit ground/concrete. I pulled forward and corrected and parked the boat in the driveway. Almost immediately after I noticed a couple small drops of gear lube dripping near the prop. There wasn't a puddle on the ground but just a couple drops and a couple drops near the prop. I wiped away the lube and moved the boat couple inches so there was a clean spot just below the prop. If it was going to continue leaking I wanted to have a clean spot to start with. The next day, no lube is leaking. Nothing on the ground and nothing near the prop. Both places were dry. I then connected the muffs and started the engine and it seemed to run great as usual. I shut it down and let it sit for another day. The next day both places were dry. No signs of a leak.
The next day I put the boat on the lake again and it was running great. However about an hour into our boat ride an audible alert sounded and the digital gauge is showing a "system fault" and message saying gear lube is low. We immediately docked the boat, trailered it, and parked it at home safely in the driveway. I checked the lube reservoir and it was empty. I filled it back up, hooked up the muffs, and started the engine. It started right up and was running great. I shut it down and let the boat sit another day so I can check for leaks later. The next day the ground below and prop are both dry . No sign of a leak. I checked the reservoir and was still filled with a maybe a slight dip. I figured the lube must have found it's way down to the areas that needed it? The next day we took it back on the lake and drove it for about 30 minutes when we noticed the slight slow-down and vibration. That's when we stopped the boat to check for any prop damage. None that I can tell so we slowly drove the boat back to the dock while staying under 2000 RPMs. I did take it a little higher than 2000 and it does begin to vibrate but seems to vibrate more when turning left and right. Driving straight seemed to reduce the vibrating while above 2000 RPMs.
The boat is now home and there are no signs of a leak but there seems to be a slight loss of lube from the reservoir in the engine compartment.
So this is where I am. Before I take it into the mechanic, is there anything I can do to fix the problem and may not require a mechanic? I'm not mechanic but I'm mechanically inclined. I've replaced a starter on my other boat among other things but have not dealt with anything like this.
Thank you so much for your time.
Todd
2007 Sea Ray 240 Sundeck
Mercuiser 350 MAG Bravo Three