Cavitation plate broken

[RinkerMane]

Ran through some debris due to other boats blocking me from being able to avoid it. Some piece of wood (most likely) caught the prop and was pushed up into the left side of my cavitation plate, breaking off a very large piece. The main drive housing is fine and the chunk broke clean. It's an alpha one gen 2. Is this something that can be welded or am I looking at a new lower? Thanks for any input. Pics included.

 

[achris]

A decent prop shop will have no problem welding that up...

 

[RinkerMane]

Can't thank you enough. I am not on here a lot but I have done some reading on occasion and I know who knows their stuff and I was hoping you (and a choice few others) might chime in. Thanks again.

 

[RinkerMane]

One more quick question. I'm not normally one to take the boat out unless it's 100% ready to go, but were on vacation this week and there is no way I can get this lower removed, repaired, and reinstalled in a week. This is obviously non-structural so would it be okay to take her out before I get this fixed? We normally put in and run about one mile to a cove and sit there all day and then back to the dock. We don't run up and down the river. Thoughts on that? Thanks!

 

[achris]

One more quick question. I'm not normally one to take the boat out unless it's 100% ready to go, but were on vacation this week and there is no way I can get this lower removed, repaired, and reinstalled in a week. This is obviously non-structural so would it be okay to take her out before I get this fixed? We normally put in and run about one mile to a cove and sit there all day and then back to the dock. We don't run up and down the river. Thoughts on that? Thanks!

Yep, no problem.

 

[harringtondav]

You will be OK. Your performance and handling may be affected a bit, but you could boat all season like this. But get it fixed as soon as convenient. Top notch prop shops know how to do this repair on the boat and not hurt a thing.

 

[RinkerMane]

You will be OK. Your performance and handling may be affected a bit, but you could boat all season like this. But get it fixed as soon as convenient. Top notch prop shops know how to do this repair on the boat and not hurt a thing.

Wow, I didn't expect that they could do it without me removing the lower....I'll check around locally. I just replaced the impeller, so this lower was only put back on the boat, literally, two days ago....and this happens on our first time out this season. I thought I was going to have to pull it again and waste brand new drive oil plus the hassle of removing and reinstalling. Can't thank ya'll enough....

 

[JASinIL2006]

I've had a semi-circle shaped chunk missing from my anti-ventilation plate for a couple of years. I keep meaning to get it repaired, but i really doesn't affect anything much. The only time I notice it is when I'm pulling the kids on our tube. Cutting sharply and accelerating, it feels like the prop is sucking air and losing some of it's bite. Otherwise, I don't notice it. Looks pretty ugly, though.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you wont need to pull the lower to have that welded. most will weld it up and have you on your way in about an hour.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Nearest prop shop I have found is about two hours away. If we had one locally, I'd do that, for the esthetics if nothing else...

 

[gm280]

I actually had a very similar brake in my plate like that. However, I did remove the lower foot section for a couple reasons. First I wanted to make a part to be welded back in and clean up the entire area to make it easier to weld. Second reason is it takes a lot of heat to weld aluminum and that heat travels to the entire part including the bearing and seals. So to avoid possible damage to any bearing or seal, I disassembled mine and removed all the paint and even beveled the edges in the new aluminum part I made and the edges to where it had to be welded. If you can find a shop that will weld it on while on the boat, go for it. But don't be surprised if they say it has to be removed either. JMHO