Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Robtrader

Recruit
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
1
Hi,

I have a question for those more experienced than myself. Whilst hiring a boat in Croatia this weekend, I hot a rock with the propeller. The boat was a Tahoe Q5, which had an inboard motor. Whilst the damage occured fairly quickly, the propeller had approx 10% taken form the edges - and the lower part of the sterndrive or the "foot" as we were told it was called, also received some damage, it was not straight. Following the noise, there was certainly a difference in the boats performance - and you could feel a vibration. I limped back to the port, which took around 10 minutes.

Upon taking the boat back to the hiring company, we were told after much chin rubbing that the internal parts of the whole sterndrive would probably be damaged, after the propeller had stopped whilst working - and in fact may require a whole unit. Our 700 Euro deposit was swiftly depleted to zero. We were told that the boat would have to be taken out of the water, and this would have to be fully checked out.

I cant help feeling that the company was hamming it up somewhat. Whilst I realise that the boat was in our custody, and we have to be fully resposible for our actions - I dont think that a system such as this would instantly destroy the whole sterndrive upon what I would imagine would be a fairly regular accident.

Any comments or advice would be appreciated - as I am not letting this go without fully investigating.

Rob
 

TilliamWe

Banned
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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Photos would be helpful. However, if it was an aluminum prop (which it probably is) the fact that the boat still moved says that the internals are ok. Standard procedure in this case is to have the prop repaired (about $100 in the U.S.), the skeg (that's the fin that sticks down below the prop on the lower unit) either straightened or cut off and rewelded (about $200 in the U.S.?), and check the propshaft for a bend (1 hour labor). Chance are it's just fine. This happens to Mercruiser drives EVERY DAY, and they don't all need to be replaced. MANY, MANY, MANY, outdrives live their lives with bent/broken skegs.

The vibration was from the prop being out of balance due to the damage.

Hope it helps.

You're getting taken advantage of. Good luck.
 
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hivoltg

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2013
Messages
186
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Im sorry to hear this happen to you. I can see both sides of this and I would expect the renting company to hold your deposit as they did. If they are a good honest company, they will have the boat repaired and parts replaced. Once that is completed, they will refund you the deposit minus the cost of repairs.

They may choose to replace the damaged prop with a brand new prop.
They may disassemble the lower outdrive boot to check for damage. Labor, seals, and drive oil.
They may also have the boot skeg repaired.

If they use a marina for the repairs...I could see this costing alot of money.
Does the rental contract mention damages?
 

agallant80

Commander
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
2,328
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

That is close to $1,000 USD I doubt you caused that much damage to the boat. Its an a aluminum prop with a plastic hub that is designed to spin if struck also the drive is designed to kick up if you hit something to lessen the impact. I had the same drive on my stingray and my x-wife drive it in to some rocks and did the same thing. I spend $110 USD on a new prop, took about 10 min to put back on and the boat was fine. With that said, I think you are screwed. They are going to say that they had to replace the skeg, replace the prop, check the shaft for straightness, there will be a fee for taking the boat out of the water ect. In reality they had a new prop on it in 1/2 hour after you leaving and rented the boat out the next day. If out drives failed after knocking in to something then no one would be able to afford boating.
 

agallant80

Commander
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Oct 25, 2010
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Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

One question. Was the prop black or was it shiny metal?
 

TilliamWe

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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
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Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

One question. Was the prop black or was it shiny metal?

I was going to ask that too. But when he mentioned parts of the prop missing, but just a little vibrator, I figured it *had* to be aluminum. If a stainless steel prop was damaged that badly, it would have SHAKEN a whole lot! ;)
 

agallant80

Commander
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Oct 25, 2010
Messages
2,328
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

The funny thing or not is this guy did what thousand of boaters do each weekend but her is going to get charged $1000 for something that we would fix for $120.
 

RogersJetboat454

Commander
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Jul 9, 2010
Messages
2,964
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Pictures are worth 1000 words...

We could all speculate on what was damaged, how bad, and how much it would cost to repair.
But we don't know what we can't see...
I can recall several posts made by folks on here about how they hit something, and were able to limp back to shore. Some of them posted pictures of their lower unit that showed it was cracked or had a hole punched in it...

Drive housings aren't rock proof...
 
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TilliamWe

Banned
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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Pictures are worth 1000 words...


Drive housings aren't rock proof...

Exactly. That's why I mentioned pictures in post #2, the first reply. And also outlined the actual inspection/repair procedure.

I sure wish the OP would update us and let us know what actions are being taken.
 

oldjeep

Admiral
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May 17, 2010
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Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

The funny thing or not is this guy did what thousand of boaters do each weekend but her is going to get charged $1000 for something that we would fix for $120.

Except that in addition to the $120 prop - which probably isn't $120 in Croatia, he also damaged the skeg which is going to require the unit to be removed, disassembled, welded, etc. Even here you are going to be $500 + into that repair if you are paying someone to do it.
 

tkz

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 9, 2012
Messages
35
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

When I rented at Lake Tahoe, the agreement was if a prop was trashed it was a 400 dollar charge. Don't understand that fee but if ya wanted to rent that was the agreement and thy made sure yo that was known upfront.. Was damn careful not to damage the prop..
 

ONEGA

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
141
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Any comments or advice would be appreciated - as I am not letting this go without fully investigating.
I think good pictures and the serial number of the drive for your records would be the first thing to do if you are going to contest the future charge.
 

agallant80

Commander
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Oct 25, 2010
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2,328
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

Except that in addition to the $120 prop - which probably isn't $120 in Croatia, he also damaged the skeg which is going to require the unit to be removed, disassembled, welded, etc. Even here you are going to be $500 + into that repair if you are paying someone to do it.

I see this one come up all of the time here. The advice most everyone posts is leave the broken skeg alone. Yes I am making an assumption here but I am confidant that after keeping a deposit on damage if its only a prop and a chipped skeg there will be no refund of any portion of it.
 

ONEGA

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Feb 18, 2012
Messages
141
Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

I see this one come up all of the time here. The advice most everyone posts is leave the broken skeg alone. Yes I am making an assumption here but I am confidant that after keeping a deposit on damage if its only a prop and a chipped skeg there will be no refund of any portion of it.
Agreed. Most of the time we look at an issue like this from DIY mechanic point of view.
In this situation if third party company is contracted to service and repair their boats which is most likely the case, the bill is going to be pretty high and well justified. Hard to assume numbers in regards to Croatia though.
 

oldjeep

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May 17, 2010
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Re: Propeller and Sterndrive Damage question

I see this one come up all of the time here. The advice most everyone posts is leave the broken skeg alone. Yes I am making an assumption here but I am confidant that after keeping a deposit on damage if its only a prop and a chipped skeg there will be no refund of any portion of it.

Well, I fixed mine - but with a skeggard. I think it is easy to assume that a rental is going to charge you whatever it costs to get it back to factory and not just leave it chunked up or do the easy repair like I did.
 
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