ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

[boatbum1959]

The other day while on our way back into the marina I was cruising about 20 mph in our 19' bayliner capri when suddenly the engine revved up way high and lost all forward propulsion. I dropped it into neut. and stopped then put it back in gear and went about 3 feet and it happened again. Turned her off and looked st the prop and there was a stick or something floating near it and looked lodged. I raised the motor and whatever was there was gone. Lowered motor, refired and off I went with no further problems. I did notice the prop spun very easily when I had it out of the water though. Did I do any damage or should I be checking anything special before I go out again?<br /><br />The best part is there was a water cop about 50' away and do you think he came over to see if we were ok? nope, to busy checking other boats for fishing licenses.<br /><br />Greg

 

[txswinner]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

Sounds like the prop was slipping, need to check if prop spins without turning shaft. Next time out when you accelarate hard watch RPM if they jump high you may need to have prop reworked. Did this on 1985 motor. I is kind of like how the old shear pins worked. clutch is hard rubber and may be fine. Good luck

 

[craze1cars]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me....a stick would cause a "clunk", not a high rev. Is it slipping out of gear? Shift cable adjustment problem possibly. Also might be a lower unit problem. Or maybe you did hit something and broke the hub loose inside the propeller so the hub is spinning inside the prop? May need a prop rebuild. I'm shooting in the dark here, but those are my only guesses.

 

[QC]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

I would expect that there would be some visual indication on the prop if anything was in there with enough strength to spin the hub. I would take a long look and feel at the prop's leading edges. Then I would pull it and take a look at the plastic hub. It can act a lot like that if the prop is clogged with a bunch of weeds too, but it would not usually fix itself without running hard in reverse.

 

[boatbum1959]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

The prop itself is fine, in fact it's a new stainless steel one. Wifey says that it looked like the stick was stuck in the hydrolic lifter that raises the motor.

 

[mercrewser]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

Everything is fine. No need to pull or check anything. Stick got caught and ventilated propeller. It will happen again. In the fall around my area leaves will get caught in the Hydrolic lines and do the same thing. Be sure to be alert and throttle down right away or engine will run away and be ruined, unless you have a rev limiter on your engine. If you hit something and hear alot of banging, start looking for broken parts. If I had a dollar for everytime what happened to you happened to me....... Lets just say it will happen many times over the life of your boat.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

Mercrewser beat me to it.<br /><br />Here, we get discarded fishing lines - short, heavy lumps of line with knots or weed - that will easily cause a prop to ventilate if they get caught up in the leg. Stop the motor, clear the debris, and away again.<br /><br />Reckon you've not done any damage. Go out and try.

 

[salty87]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

water popo isn't there to clear your prop. there are tow services you can pay to join if needed.

 

[22trophy]

Re: ANOTHER "did I do any damage?"

So the water cop didn't help you? Did you signal you needed assistance? Do you expect society to anticipate your needs? Are you a Democrat? Next time ask for help, and then complain if you don't receive it. He's paid to do a job. He's not there to baby sit boaters, that don't actually need help.