Wrapped the rope!

quailrunner

New Member
May 26, 2010
140
Cayuga Lake, New York
Boat Info
2006 185 Sport
Engines
V6 Mercruizer 4.3l
I managed to drive over the tow rope this weekend and wrapped it around the prop (mostly just forward of the blades). Going about 5 mph; alarm sounded and engine shut down very quickly. I jumped in and removed 6-8 turns of tow rope from around the prop. Started up again and put it into gear, tried it very slowly at first, but there was no discernable change in sound or propulsion. The prop is attached using the usual Flo Torg for the drive, so I assume that if there was a real issue w. obstruction it would have blown the kit and I would have had no actual propulsion? I looked at the prop (didn't pull it off); everything looked fine from the outside (for what that's worth). I'll be asking my mechanic as well, but want to know if anyone has suggestions re things to look for.
 
i would suggest at least looking at the plastic hub for cracks....i once had a crack in my hub and did not know it until i took the prop off to grease the prop shaft for routine maintenance.....

cliff
 
I definitely agree! What I really want to know is if there's something that tells me a trip to the mechanic is in order, but it seems like its fine.
 
i would suggest at least looking at the plastic hub for cracks....i once had a crack in my hub and did not know it until i took the prop off to grease the prop shaft for routine maintenance.....

cliff

That's a good idea - at least, enough to make me pull the prop and look at it (easy - its in a lift).
 
better than this guy
ropemussels.jpg
 
I got wrapped up in a sail a few weeks ago. It wound around a few times before the engine stalled. No harm done but you do have to be careful, especially with string or wire, they will cut through the prop shaft seal.
 
I definitely agree! What I really want to know is if there's something that tells me a trip to the mechanic is in order, but it seems like its fine.

For what its worth, when I hit my prop on submerged scrap concrete last year, I did find at the end of the season when I took my prop off that the torq kit was partially blown. At the time of the incident, I asked a mechanic if I should be concerned - he said that if it's running right, and you can't find a problem, there likely isn't much for him to look for. I was out of town on vacation at the time, and went back on the water the next day without incident. I suppose that any violent stopping of the prop is about the same in this respect.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,832
Members
60,931
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top