Ouch! hit sandbar, HELP W/ TROUBLESHOOTING!

I recently bought my first boat last summer, 16ft '63 crestliner w/ '65 90hp electromatic, meteor 2 johnson. Unfortunately it's now the end of day 2 of opener and my johnson recently had a run in w/ sand bar Now it will only go w/ lower rpm's. I inspected the prop and that seems fine, no chunks gouged out. Could it maybe be that a gear got stripped when it hit the sandbar and won't catch during the higher rpm's? Sorry no specific rpm ranges, was too frantic at the moment to have any clear thoughts! It also seems that the prop still spins when in high rpm's but there is just no thrust, sounds wierd to me that the prop would spin and provide no thrust. Is that even possible I appreciate any clues on what may be my problem. I also am in the process of getting a service manual for it as well. Thanks in advance

Re: Ouch! hit sandbar, HELP W/ TROUBLESHOOTING!

I am not familiar with the engine you have . Does your engine sound OK and seem to be running at high RPM at WOT? I would probably start by buying a new Prop. I know with Johnson and Evenrude they have a spline set in rubber and it can get striped . Saving your lower unit but ruining the prop..
See what others say..
Good luck and enjoy your Boat:
Icurious1

Re: Ouch! hit sandbar, HELP W/ TROUBLESHOOTING!

It does sound like you have encountered what is called a slipping hub. A propeller is actually three items.... the bronze hub, a section of vaulcanized rubber, and the actual propeller. The rubber is to absorb shock.

When this rubber fails, the propeller may grab somewhat at the lower rpms but as the rpms increase, the water pressure becomes too great resulting in the horsepower spinning the bronze hub within the propeller.

The cure is to either replace the propeller or to have a reliable propeller shop re-hub your present propeller. Note that it's always a good idea to have a spare propeller on hand.

Re: Ouch! hit sandbar, HELP W/ TROUBLESHOOTING!

Well, blizzard, tell ya what's the truth. It's one of two things. It's either the prop hub slipping, OR it's the electramatic clutch slipping. You better hope it's the prop.

Here's the easy way to tell if a prop is slipping: Make a mark on the prop nut. Make another mark on the propeller (not the prop center hub) aligned with the mark on the nut.

Now run the motor till the suspected slippage occurs. Stop and check your marks. If they are no longer aligned, the hub has slipped. If they are still aligned, repeat the test..there is a rare possibility that they stopped slipping in the same location.

The cure for a slipped hub is either have it re-hubbed at a prop shop or just replace it. You can't re-hub it yourself. Neither can you turn it by hand and try to make it slip unless you are as strong as 90 horses.

The cure for a slipping electramatic clutch is first check it out electrically, and if that is OK, get out your wallet. Well, in either case get out your wallet. The last time I checked the price of the shift switch it was $400. I have a new one for less $$ if you need one.