Grounded the props - best way to repair and check for other damage?

[pachanga27]

Basic info - 1989 Sea Ray - Twin 5.7 Mercruisers -Alpha 1 outdrives - Quicksilver stainless steel props - Problem - Crossed a submerged sand bar - saw it at the very last minute - was at idle speed at the moment when I crossed it - props dug in - didn't get to neutral - the boat has separate throttles and shift levers -(trying to throttle both engines back and reach down to hit the "trailer" outdrive switches) I was not able to get the shift levers also. The kneel did not touch - I think I had started raising the outdrives enough that only the bottom of the porps hit the sandbar..and the boat glided on through and the props looked to be only in the sand for maybe one foot of travel time - Of course .. went to neutral ... then shut down, got out into the water to inspect for damage and found that the leading edge of each prop was just a little roughed up - not really much at all. Skeg and lower unit did not look any different - no major paint worn off - no scratches, gouges, nothing. Cranked back up - checked the water temps on each motor - stayed at 145 degrees - 5 minutes of idling - still 145. Put her in gear - slowly accelerated - waiting for an issue with balence - none - smooth - throttled on up and came on plane fully - and truthfully I could not determine any difference in the way she ran now verses an hour before the mishap.
Stayed at 40mph for a while and then throttled on up to running a tad over 50 (not WOT) and all was good.

So.. my thinking is that I lucked out - but first question - the leading edge of the props are a little beat up - not much really - you have to run your fingers over the edge to really feel the roughness and a few burrs (whereas before they were sharp) What is the best way to remove the burrs and clean the edges and to sharpen them again? And check balence after possibly sharping them. Best to take them to a shop equiped for this type of repair?

Second question - is there a way to check for any other damage - prop shaft? Bearings? etc in the lower unit?

Thanks

Freddie

 

[cribber]

Re: Grounded the props - best way to repair and check for other damage?

Sounds like you lucked out and just sand blasted both props. If you're still getting up to 50 and not at WOT you didn't hurt them. You could take them to a prop shop and have them checked over and adjusted if needed. Keep an eye of the drive fluid after the next few times you go out. If it turn milky you'll need the address the lower unit seals.

 

[pachanga27]

Re: Grounded the props - best way to repair and check for other damage?

Thanks for the reply and advice - I will find a good shop around here and get the props checked out. I will also check the lower drive fliud after each outing from now on out until I am sure it is ok or I find that there is some leakage.

As far as the speeds - this is an old Pachanga with a speedo that uses the pitot tube on the stern - not a GPS speedo. I imagine if anything the actual speed is going to lower than what I see on the speedo - but I do use it as a reference (along with RPMs) to provide info if need be. The 5.7s will push the boat to a speed close to 55mph (by the speedo) at WOT if trimmed properly - Of course the speedo hand is semi bouncing a bit by the this time - but again - this is not a GPS speedo - I rarely run WOT - can't remember when I did last time. I usually run at 45mph by the old speedo and that seems to provide a smooth ride and provide the best gas milage or gallons consumed by the motors.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Grounded the props - best way to repair and check for other damage?

Ayuh,.... I'd use a fixed point, 'n look to see if there's any prop shaft run out...

Not sure of the spec, but it's Tiny.... few thousandths "...