mrsrobinson
Well-Known Member
7+ years of boating the James river and we have never hit a log. Well, yesterday we took advantage of a very rare 80 degree day in December and took the boat out. It was our first time out since having the bottom painted, hull compounded/waxed and props reconditioned. She ran like a charm, until...
It was windy/choppy and the water was browner than usual. Under plane, 25+ knots, we heard a sickening loud boom, so loud I thought we hit a rock or something. I quickly pulled back the throttles and threw her in neutral. Sat for a few minutes to make sure we were not sinking, hit the bilge pump, no water came out, so far so good. Put her in gear and got all kinds of vibrations on the port side, starboard side OK.
I checked the engine compartment for leaks and noises, all good. We boated back on the starboard engine but I did leave the port one running and in gear since we have dripless shafts.
Made it back, dropped the engine down from 1200 RPMs to idle and the starboard trans started making all kinds of loud knocking noises. This one V-Drive has always been a little noisy when idling, but never like this. Got her in the slip and had her pulled 3 hours later as we had to wait for the tide to rise.
Visually all good news. Port prop is bent pretty bad, but can be reconditioned. Starboard prop was very loose but does not appear to be damaged. Both are coming off today and going back to the recondition shop. Both shafts look good. Mechanic is going to test/check them today hopefully. Underwater exhausts are in tact, no damage, rudders/struts are in tact, no damage.
We are hoping the horrible knocking noise in the starboard trans is from the loose prop. Otherwise, new transmission. The starboard side had some vibration pre impact so I am thinking it was not secured properly by the service shop when the props were reinstalled. It only makes the noise from idle to 1200 RPMs, after 1200 no noise at all. Our starboard engine is acting strange too. Idle is jumping up and down and dropping to 500RPMs and even shut down a few times. Not sure how this can be related but it was not doing this pre-impact.
This was our first impact underway and I tell you what, it's a sickening/frightening feeling.
It was windy/choppy and the water was browner than usual. Under plane, 25+ knots, we heard a sickening loud boom, so loud I thought we hit a rock or something. I quickly pulled back the throttles and threw her in neutral. Sat for a few minutes to make sure we were not sinking, hit the bilge pump, no water came out, so far so good. Put her in gear and got all kinds of vibrations on the port side, starboard side OK.
I checked the engine compartment for leaks and noises, all good. We boated back on the starboard engine but I did leave the port one running and in gear since we have dripless shafts.
Made it back, dropped the engine down from 1200 RPMs to idle and the starboard trans started making all kinds of loud knocking noises. This one V-Drive has always been a little noisy when idling, but never like this. Got her in the slip and had her pulled 3 hours later as we had to wait for the tide to rise.
Visually all good news. Port prop is bent pretty bad, but can be reconditioned. Starboard prop was very loose but does not appear to be damaged. Both are coming off today and going back to the recondition shop. Both shafts look good. Mechanic is going to test/check them today hopefully. Underwater exhausts are in tact, no damage, rudders/struts are in tact, no damage.
We are hoping the horrible knocking noise in the starboard trans is from the loose prop. Otherwise, new transmission. The starboard side had some vibration pre impact so I am thinking it was not secured properly by the service shop when the props were reinstalled. It only makes the noise from idle to 1200 RPMs, after 1200 no noise at all. Our starboard engine is acting strange too. Idle is jumping up and down and dropping to 500RPMs and even shut down a few times. Not sure how this can be related but it was not doing this pre-impact.
This was our first impact underway and I tell you what, it's a sickening/frightening feeling.