2001 Four Winns 350 MPI Bravo 1 Rock in prop Need ADVICE new too boating

[deerhunter1525]

Good Evening,

I was out on my boat for the very first time today and kicked up a rock in my prop and now the boat will not move. When the gear shifter is pushed into drive and reverse the shaft just spins. Feels like the shaft is broke in the out drive. Would this be possible ? If anyone could give me a idea on what normally fails it would be great because i am making an appointment to get the boat fixed but dont want to be scammed.

Thanks Alot

 

[Fun Times]

When the gear shifter is pushed into drive and reverse the shaft just spins. Feels like the shaft is broke in the out drive. Would this be possible ?

Hi there, welcome to iboats!

What shaft do you see spinning?

Yes it's possible that the driveshaft between the lower and upper housings has snapped in half or maybe the coupler at the end of the driveshaft. Item numbers 12 & 19, http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...nbr=1943&bnbr=220&bdesc=GEAR+HOUSING(BRAVO+I)

Other failure points could be the propeller hub, engine coupler or drive gears.

 

[thumpar]

Like Fun Times pointed to. What do you see spinning? It could be anything from the engine coupler to the prop hub.

 

[ihearth2o]

If you kept running the motor, then I suppose it's possible to cause damage to the prop shaft. If the rock was small enough for the prop to "kick it up", I'm not sure the rock could be big enough for it to cause that much damage though but I suppose in the right conditions, anything is possible. Typically with prop strikes, it's either the prop itself, especially if it's aluminum, or the prop hub that is sacrificed to prevent damage to other, more crucial (aka expensive) components. It would be interesting to see what the prop looks like.

 

[deerhunter1525]

The shaft everyone is questioning is the shaft that the prop connects too the outdrive. When the propulsion lever is in forward or reverse the shaft just spins almost feels like it will not go into gear. Also i noticed the level used to be smooth as silk going into forward or reverse and now there is a big moment of force required to get it into "gear". The prop was stainless steel which i am learning is a big no no in the rivers around Pittsburgh.

Thanks for all the help

 

[alldodge]

The shaft everyone is questioning is the shaft that the prop connects too the outdrive. When the propulsion lever is in forward or reverse the shaft just spins almost feels like it will not go into gear. Also i noticed the level used to be smooth as silk going into forward or reverse and now there is a big moment of force required to get it into "gear". The prop was stainless steel which i am learning is a big no no in the rivers around Pittsburgh.

Thanks for all the help

If a rock got caught between the prop blade and the cavitation plate, then the prop could stop and that amount of force could snap something in the drive. It could also do it if it was aluminum but a higher possibilities of occurrence with stainless.

 

[Bondo]

The shaft everyone is questioning is the shaft that the prop connects too the outdrive. When the propulsion lever is in forward or reverse the shaft just spins almost feels like it will not go into gear. Also i noticed the level used to be smooth as silk going into forward or reverse and now there is a big moment of force required to get it into "gear". The prop was stainless steel which i am learning is a big no no in the rivers around Pittsburgh.

Thanks for all the help

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... Drainin' the oil outa the drive might show signs of the problem, 'n which way to proceed,....

Was there any smoke at the back of the motorbox when tryin' to move the boat,..??
Any burnin' rubber smells,..??

 

[deerhunter1525]

I am going to be taking the boat into the shop early this week. I am brand new so I really don't want to starting to take anything apart until I know more about it. As far as any smells or smoke I noticed nothing at that time. Soon as I here what it was I'll be sure to post. One thing for sure I am expecting a large bill. Thank god for insurance I guess Thanks for all the help.