Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Found: Uncharted Unmarked Oyster Bar...OUCH!
Posted by cummings on 09/03/12 - 6:26 PM
#1
Another beautiful day on the water east of the St Marks, FL lighthouse getting the limit of fat scallops. So, headed from one spot to another at about 20 mph the motor found and uncharted, unmarked oyster bar...BAM...up flies the motor...BAM BAM up comes the motor again...turned key off, engine hits the bar again and we stop. Damn. That's putting it politely.
Raised the 30 hp Tohatsu four stroke motor for a look. We started to float with the tide so good, we never scraped bottom. Raised the motor...OUCH. Quarter size chunk out of the skeg and bent a little to the left. Aluminum prop chunked on all three blades. No fluids leaking. After floating about 30 feet motor down, fingers crossed, turned the key and it started. Forward and reverse worked and could feel a slight vibration. No unusual noises from the motor.
The problem: Cannot get on plane as motor only revs to 3K and maybe 8-9 mph. So we vibrate the 11 miles to the landing at 2200 rpm and 5 mph. No unusual noises like gears grinding
The Question: Any thoughts on what is broken? Is there a rev limiter to protect the motor after such an incident? Other?
Thanks, GJC
Posted by spuds on 09/03/12 - 8:41 PM
#2
Very likely a bent prop shaft as well.
Posted by mtown on 09/04/12 - 9:40 AM
#3
Most likely the prop damage is causing both problems.
Posted by Tom W Clark on 09/04/12 - 10:59 AM
#4
- You had a hard grounding at speed.
- The propeller is mangled.
I do not think it is any mystery why your motor will not go very fast. Get it to a mechanic for an inspection and repair of the lower unit. You probably have a bent propeller shaft as well.
Posted by tedious on 09/04/12 - 12:12 PM
#5
Presuming that the prop shaft is indeed damaged (and unfortunately it sure sounds like it) this is more ammunition against the old wives tale that an aluminum prop will protect your drivetrain!
Tim
Posted by cummings on 09/04/12 - 5:18 PM
#6
Thanks all. It went to the shop early this a.m. All in the shop thought it had a rev limiter of sorts but the "real" mechanic was not there. Hopefully next I'll get the bad news and will reveal to all the OUCH...
Posted by zappaddles on 09/05/12 - 3:53 AM
#7
Sorry to hear about your boat. Hope everything turns out as good as is possible. When I saw the title of your post my thought immediatly went to the Oyster Bay/Appalachee Bay area. Looks like I might have been correct. That's some tricky boating down there.
Zap