How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

[YeahBuoy]

Hello again,

I just bought a 1989 Bayliner 1750 capri with an OMC Cobra 2.3L I/O engine/drive.
I took the boat out to Castaic Lake and was about 100-150 feet from the shore when i hear my prop hitting some sand and rocks. I immediately left the area.
After taking the boat out of the water after about 2 more hours on the lake, I noticed that the sand/rocks had not only polished some paint off the propeller and skeg, but they had bent/chipped the blades a little and there is also a small chip in my skeg.

Do I need to replace my prop? get something re-alligned? re-paint?
I want to take the boat out again this weekend but apparently i can damage my drive using a damaged prop? is this true?
Can anyone assess this damage and let me know what the best course of action would be, and also what kind of damage i would do if i did nothing about it.

Thanks in advance

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

You have nothing to worry about. I would wager that most props on boats that get used frequently are dinged up worse than that. Heck, a lot of boats have skegs with a lot more material missing than yours! You are good to go as long as you don't experience any excessive vibration in the driveline. If it makes you feel better, you COULD have the prop repaired, but it will cost nearly as much as a new one. I would leave the skeg alone.

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

You have nothing to worry about. I would wager that most props on boats that get used frequently are dinged up worse than that. Heck, a lot of boats have skegs with a lot more material missing than yours! You are good to go as long as you don't experience any excessive vibration in the driveline.

yes i have just read here that prop damage can cause excess vibration and can damage my drive. Again, I am totally new even to riding on boats, so how could i tell if there were a problem like this? ie how would i tell if there is "excessive vibration in the driveline"

p.s. its hard to tell in the pics but on of the prop blades has quite a larger chip than the rest at the top. can this cause the prop to be missaligned and thus cause some of those drive propblems?

And thanks for the help

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

You need to have that prop rebuilt or replaced. Whether you can feel it or not it is going to be vibrating and can damage seals.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

yes i have just read here that prop damage can cause excess vibration and can damage my drive. Again, I am totally new even to riding on boats, so how could i tell if there were a problem like this? ie how would i tell if there is "excessive vibration in the driveline"

p.s. its hard to tell in the pics but on of the prop blades has quite a larger chip than the rest at the top. can this cause the prop to be missaligned and thus cause some of those drive propblems?

And thanks for the help

Ayuh,.... I agree with bhile,... that prop is Beat,....

Find the numbers on it, 'n get another one, then have that 1 rebuilt for a spare,...

How did the boat Run,..??

Was the Wot Rpms "In-spec",..??

I'll move this to the Prop Forum,...

Just throw some paint on the skeg, it ain't hurt,...

'n Quit boatin' where there ain't No Water,....

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Ayuh,.... I agree with bhile,... that prop is Beat,....

Find the numbers on it, 'n get another one, then have that 1 rebuilt for a spare,...

How did the boat Run,..??

Was the Wot Rpms "In-spec",..??

I'll move this to the Prop Forum,...

Just throw some paint on the skeg, it ain't hurt,...

'n Quit boatin' where there ain't No Water,....

to be completely honest i dont know how it ran after. It was literally my second time taking a boat out ever. I honestly dont know what "Was the Wot Rpms "In-spec",..??" means so if anyone can shine some light on that for me that would be awesome.

I would hate to have my ignorance be the death of this boat

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

can you run the boat on that prop temporarily... yeah. Likely it will affect the performance somewhat, but since you don't really know the boat yet, you probably wont notice. However, like mentioned above, it will eventually cause damage if you run it like that for long enough. A prop shop could make it like new again if you feel like its a good prop for your boat. The skeg, don't worry about it, im sure it wont be the last time it touches bottom.

As for the wot in spec thing.... Before you ran aground, did you get to do any wide open throttle runs with it, trimming it up to achieve maximum rpms/speed? Speed should be taken by GPS, boat speedos are notoriously inaccurate. This is the way that you can determine how the prop is performing, allowing you to figure out the prop slip %, and making sure the engine is achieving proper RPMS per manufacturer spec. Your current prop may have been spot on, or maybe you could really benefit from something different... the only way to know is to get some real world numbers on the boat/motor/prop setup.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

I used to have a 125 Johnson with aluminum props back in '72. Props lasted about one outing. Off to the prop shot for a fix-em-up. Repaint job lasted about the first plane out. Fix was usually ripped out within the first hour. OMC SST solved the problem.

Your stuff just had the paint skinned off. Don't worry about it.

Mark

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

can you run the boat on that prop temporarily... yeah. Likely it will affect the performance somewhat, but since you don't really know the boat yet, you probably wont notice. However, like mentioned above, it will eventually cause damage if you run it like that for long enough. A prop shop could make it like new again if you feel like its a good prop for your boat. The skeg, don't worry about it, im sure it wont be the last time it touches bottom.

As for the wot in spec thing.... Before you ran aground, did you get to do any wide open throttle runs with it, trimming it up to achieve maximum rpms/speed? Speed should be taken by GPS, boat speedos are notoriously inaccurate. This is the way that you can determine how the prop is performing, allowing you to figure out the prop slip %, and making sure the engine is achieving proper RPMS per manufacturer spec. Your current prop may have been spot on, or maybe you could really benefit from something different... the only way to know is to get some real world numbers on the boat/motor/prop setup.

Yes i did do some wide open trottle runs, if by that you mean I ran the boat at full throttle for a bit up and down the lake before heading home. I DID NOT, however, do any WOT runs prior to damaging the prop.

Also I am very unfamiliar with all of this, especially with trim adjustments. I dont know what the trim tab on my throttle does except when i lower the drive down all the way when in the water and lift it back up again when trailering out. Does the trim tab just raise/lower the drive while the boat is under way? what does this do?

where can i get some more information about all of this, as well as ways to get those "real world numbers" ie what i should be recording and how to interpret them.

all of the help is much appreciated, this boat would be finished if it weren't for this forum

 

[steelespike]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

You should take a boating course. A marina or some place like a bass pro shop may know where you can find
a boating course.Perhaps the local coastguard auxiliary may be able to help. At least you and even better if all that boat with you often as well.
Perhaps you have a friend or relative that is experienced with boats.
Very basically trim down for take off as the boat planes out pick a comfortable cruising speed and trim up a little at a time and note the results. You will feel the boat seem lighter and faster.As you slow down you would normally trim down.
Anytime you start the boat you should run the bilge blower for a few minutes first, to be sure the bilge is cleared of any fumes.
If the boat smells gassy figure out why.
During operation be very aware of the motor temperature and oil pressure.
I believe the I/O has a circulation pump like a car and an impeller that supplies the water to the system.
If you don't know the age of the impeller consider renewing it.
Check oil level often till you know the engines habits.
I'm sure I've missed lots of points.Any questions be sure to ask.
There are no stupid questions.

 

[limitout]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

gotta agree with the others, replace the prop with a new one and I wouldn't even waste money doing anything to the old one, it will cost as much as a new one to get it retuned and it will still be a "doctored" prop and not true to its original specs or performance since they will have to remove material from the other blades to match the missing material from the worst blade.

its best to just keep the damaged prop as an emergency spare just to use to get you back to the launch if needed.

as for the skeg just sand it smooth and prime and paint it and your good as new, small dings in a skeg don't have much affect on things, its the prop that matters

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

deleted...duplicate post

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Don't run that prop anymore. It is no longer going to be in balance.

A rebuilt prop will be just as good as the new one and in fact it could be better balanced depending on who does it. I use Wilmington Propeller in Long Beach. You can either go to the directly or find a shop that sends them there. They do pick ups at many shops so give them a call.

 

[bigdirty]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

I have seen MANY worse props than that.. but yes, there is some damage to it, and in the long run (at least in your case) it may be best to start with a brand new prop.. that way you will get a feel for it and how the boat runs/feels, and eventually you WILL know when something is wrong or vibrating out of place with 'the norm' for your boat. One of my personal rules is to ALWAYS have a spare prop on board.. so if the boat didn't come with one, buying a new prop is best anyway IMHO. There is always a rock, or a sand bar, or a rouge water ski... :laugh: (yes, that was an interesting day..)

I have always been pretty in tune to mechanical stuff and can get a 'feel' for things rather quickly (machinist by trade) but I hear and feel things all the time most people dont or cant... if you arn't sure if your drive is vibrating, maybe search out a marine tech or a 'mechanical' friend and go out with them.. Little story here to drive the point home...

A friend of mine (also in the machine trade) bought a 29ft searay a few years back and 10 mins into the first run out (at full throttle, and a mile away from shore) we both heard a very subtle noise.. a bad one, getting louder, coming from the engine.. the time it took for both of us to look back at the engine bay (merc 454, running with the hatch up) and back at each other was about 3 seconds, and as i opened my mouth to say 'dude, theres something wrong..' he was throttling back. Kept it running/idling and made it back to the dock, barely. Motor was toast in the end, cam, bearings and heads were totally shot. Another minit at WOT that motor likely would have blown up, and we would have been in a bad situation.

DEFINITELY agree with steelespike, take a boating course asap, and check your local county/municipality reg's as far as what is required to operate a boat (licenses, required safety gear, etc) cause bad things can happen real quick on the water, you want to be prepared, and know what you are doing.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

If you are going to Castaic again, I will go out with you.

 

[tazrig]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Your prop should be refurbished (brought back to factory spec by a specialist) or replaced. The skeg is fine and the missing paint is just decoration. You can repaint it but the same thing will happen even if you never contact sand. With alum. props it's always a good idea to carry a spare anyway. They are designed to bend and break so your drive doesn't.

 

[YeahBuoy]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

I have seen MANY worse props than that.. but yes, there is some damage to it, and in the long run (at least in your case) it may be best to start with a brand new prop.. that way you will get a feel for it and how the boat runs/feels, and eventually you WILL know when something is wrong or vibrating out of place with 'the norm' for your boat. One of my personal rules is to ALWAYS have a spare prop on board.. so if the boat didn't come with one, buying a new prop is best anyway IMHO. There is always a rock, or a sand bar, or a rouge water ski... :laugh: (yes, that was an interesting day..)

I have always been pretty in tune to mechanical stuff and can get a 'feel' for things rather quickly (machinist by trade) but I hear and feel things all the time most people dont or cant... if you arn't sure if your drive is vibrating, maybe search out a marine tech or a 'mechanical' friend and go out with them.. Little story here to drive the point home...

A friend of mine (also in the machine trade) bought a 29ft searay a few years back and 10 mins into the first run out (at full throttle, and a mile away from shore) we both heard a very subtle noise.. a bad one, getting louder, coming from the engine.. the time it took for both of us to look back at the engine bay (merc 454, running with the hatch up) and back at each other was about 3 seconds, and as i opened my mouth to say 'dude, theres something wrong..' he was throttling back. Kept it running/idling and made it back to the dock, barely. Motor was toast in the end, cam, bearings and heads were totally shot. Another minit at WOT that motor likely would have blown up, and we would have been in a bad situation.

DEFINITELY agree with steelespike, take a boating course asap, and check your local county/municipality reg's as far as what is required to operate a boat (licenses, required safety gear, etc) cause bad things can happen real quick on the water, you want to be prepared, and know what you are doing.

Well said.
I live in California so you don't to need a boating license, but there is a boating education course that grants one a 'license' of sorts. I took and passed this course but honestly it was mostly about safety so there was nothing about any of this.

Many many thanks for the help, I'll check right away for a boating course in my area.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Have current prop repaired and properly balanced.
Get spare prop and keep on board
Skeg damage is nothing to worry about
Read and research some of the wealth of information available on this forum
Ask questions as required
Take a boating course.

Enjoy your new boat and the entire boating experience.
Ken.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: How bad is this prop and skeg damage? First Timer

Check out the local Power Squadron.
The Coast Guard sometimes has classes.
The prop isin't that bad.
But get it repaired.
You can dress it up with a file and a small hammer and a block of wood.
Small taps,it's aluminum.
Don't buy a stainless prop until you have a bit more experience on the water.
The stainless isin't as forgiving as aluminum.
Your new and your gonna find bottom a few more times.
It's expensive and can lead to shaft failure if you hit something.
Get a factory manual.Or any manual is better than none.
The outdrive is something that needs to be studied.
If you don't change the oil right you can burn up the drive.
So read and ask questions.
LOT'S of good help on this site.