Outboard vibration HELP PLEASE!

[bassinbrunner]

I have no earthly idea about boat mechanics. I have a 1996 Johnson fast strike 115 h.p. motor on a 17 foot bass boat. The boat handles decent at low speed, but when goosed the steering gets very loose and when looking back at the motor, it seems to be moving back and forth excessively, thus making the boat rock side to side where it's bad enough I have to slow down quickly. I have had this boat for a few years and nothing like this has happened. At full throttle it runs smooth as silk, then suddenly today it did not. The propeller has a slight bend on one of the blades caused by a recent stump hitting, though it was just at idle speed. Could this cause the excess motion? Please help with some suggestions of what the cause may be.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Outboard vibration HELP PLEASE!

I guess the first quesion would be, did it start right after you hit the stump or did it run okay after that and then began acting up? I would start by getting the prop fixed and go from there. And yes, A bent prop can sure set up some vibrations..

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Outboard vibration HELP PLEASE!

It can also chage the handling especially on a pad bottom boat. I see a prop shop visit in your future.<br /><br />Good luck!