Hit a log, damaged my prop, have a quick question

M

mjrubino

Member
Apr 22, 2008
69
Mechanicville, NY
Boat Info
Monaco 207 SRV
Engines
228hp 5.0L Mercruiser w/ Alpha 1
I did some searching but I'm limited on time with a low battery in my laptop

Long story short, I was on plane when I heard a loud thunk and it felt/sounded like the boat flew into neutral. I immediately put it in neutral, then clicked it into forward again and was moving okay but a shakey. Slowly eased throttle forward and around 2200 RPMs it felt like it was slipping into neutral again, so to speak.

Pulled into a nearby marina to tie up, raised the outdrive, and saw maybe 1/2" of one prop blade was bent, and another had a little chunk missing out of it. It's a three blade prop. The skeg was still there and in one piece.

I wasn't that far from my home marina so I idled it back.

It shifted and maneuvered fine, had no problem going back and forth between forward and reverse while going through the lock and docking.

I know the prop would cause the vibration and affect performance, but would it go so far as to cause the feeling of slipping into neutral when given some throttle? Or should I be concerned of even further damage to other parts of the outdrive?

edit: to add that I have an Alpha I outdrive, I thought it was in my sig but I guess not.
 
Could be the bend and chip is causing the prop to aerate, or form bubbles which would make the prop "slip" and feel like its going into neutral. Have the prop fixed and go from there.
 
Like previous said, Recomend getting the prop repaired but, also purchasing a spare one, plus prop wrench and pliers, and small dead blow hammer on board. 25 minutes at a shallow water can put a perfectly good weekend back on track. Good luck!
 
Does anyone have any recommendations on a place to get props repaired? I too have a small (far less than a pencil eraser size) knick in one blade. I have also heard that prop repair is usually significantly less than replacement and the results are sufficient. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Been a while since I've owned an I/O/outboard type prop, but don't they still have pressed rubber hubs that can slip causing the same symptoms?
 
matthewmiller01 said:
Does anyone have any recommendations on a place to get props repaired? I too have a small (far less than a pencil eraser size) knick in one blade. I have also heard that prop repair is usually significantly less than replacement and the results are sufficient. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I took mine in to a local marina, they sent it out to get it fixed. I forget who, it was many yrs ago, on my old boat. I bet you can google for places. Seems like there's one in the upper midwest, that I've seen/heard of before that's got a good reputation for rebuilds and new props.

-VtSeaRay
 
tobnpr said:
Been a while since I've owned an I/O/outboard type prop, but don't they still have pressed rubber hubs that can slip causing the same symptoms?
Click to expand...

This was my experience one time where after the strike, there was enough to spin the prop at idle or a little over but as rpm's increased it would slip.
 
mjrubino Call your ins. co and report this accident right away! It is possible you did more damagr than you think, which could shoe up later. JUST FILE A REPORT WITH THEM, TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED. RIC
 
Call your ins. co and report this accident right away!
Click to expand...

x2. I did the same thing about 3 years ago. I replaced the prop. Couple weeks later I stripped a gear in the lower unit. My insurance paid the bill. That was in the winter. The next summer my gimble ring broke where the trim cylinders attach. I'm sure it was all from the original strike. By the time the gimble ring broke I had changed insurance companies. I'm just now getting around to the repair.
 
You need to open a claim with the insurance company, "just in case." You then need to replace the prop and the broken hub. Some hubs are integral with the prop, others are independently replaceable. You probably have the second type since that's what Merc has been making for about 15 years. The hub is designed to shear to protect the drive, gears, and shafts from damage during a strike.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Thanks for all the responses and the insurance tips. Talked to my agent/sister the next day at the family barbecue. Didn't know insurance would cover the fall out from that sort of thing.

I do have a couple spare props and did have the necessary tools on board, but wasn't exactly sure how to change the prop and all my service manuals were at my house. Unfortunately now my prop wrench is sitting somewhere under my slip at the moment.

Swapped the props and all was well and normal. I'm not sure that I have the rubber hub mentioned? The parts diagram in my service manual (and what I saw when doing the swap) was that the shaft and interior of the propeller both have grooves that interlocked. The only "hub" I saw mentioned was the thrust hub, which looked alright.

In hindsight I'm not sure how much the prop was actually affecting performance versus my boat just going slooow due to the fact I had a loaded boat. Rated for 8 people, I had 7 plus two full coolers so I was probably around max capacity. It took a little longer than usual to get up to speed and on plane before the prop was broke, so it makes sense to me that it'd take even longer to the point of feeling like I wasn't making power after being broken.

Here's the resulting damage, anyway.

n607007646_1953076_7171964.jpg


4578_83640367646_607007646_1953077_6268050_n.jpg
 
matthewmiller01 said:
Does anyone have any recommendations on a place to get props repaired? I too have a small (far less than a pencil eraser size) knick in one blade. I have also heard that prop repair is usually significantly less than replacement and the results are sufficient. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have a great place near me.
John and his team are the best. http://www.propshopinc.com/Home-6.html
tobnpr said:
Been a while since I've owned an I/O/outboard type prop, but don't they still have pressed rubber hubs that can slip causing the same symptoms?
Click to expand...

That could very well be that the hub is damaged. I agree with the others to have the prop fixed and see how it performs.
 
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