Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I was out on my boat 1989 Bayliner Trophy Cobra 5.8, OMC outdrive and hit a rock or something. Destroyed the prop. We went to deeper water and the boat seemingly ran fine. In retrospect may have been reving kinda high. But we were able to get on plane @26mph back home. I thought things were OK but then we went back out later and had trouble getting it on plane and then when we trimmed down just a little bit the boat came to a complete stop with no forward or reverse (which were both working after the initial incident). Now when I try to get in gear the engine kinda sputters (like a bad coupling) and then just revs really high. The sad part of this is that I just spent $1700 on repairing all the shift cables and brackets last week. Any idea what I could have done? I did replace the prop hoping it was a busted hub but still nada. The prop doesn't turn in forward or reverse. Thanks for your help.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

OUCH!! Sorry to read that. I read some where if you smack something hard enough the ball mechanize that the shift rod screws into can be damaged. Even the shift rod, or bell crank if smacked hard enough, can be damaged. All the force reverbs the whole sterndrive and the weakest part gets a hammering. The only way to know now (I think) is start taking it apart). Unless some one else knows a way to check things out first.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

Yeah unfortunately I can't get it out of the water because I have to wait to be towed to a local boat ramp. I am going to end up taking it to a repair shop, I am just trying to educate myself ahead of time so I have some idea of what's going on. There does seem to be a new oil leak and more water in the bilge too. I'm guessing I knocked whatever it was really hard and put a crack in the lower unit and possibly transom. What throws me is why the engine sputters for lack of a better term, and then revs super high, and why it seemingly worked so well only to go out later. I shudder to think that I probably worsened the problem on my way back but to be fair it really looked OK. Thanks for your input.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

I hope some one else can answer with a more in depth reply. I'm new to working on my own boat now, as 3 yrs ago a shop over charged, and did not do it right. But, here in Salem, there are only 2 shops, and neither of them know how to work on OMC's. In fact, they would rather not.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

Did you try a different prop? Maybe the hub of your prop is slipping now. If your coupler went out, your boat would be overheating.

Highly doubt its your shift linkages.

edit: Now I see you tried another prop.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

is there any lube in the drive? maybe the housing is cracked and full of water?

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

I really appreciate everyone's input. I did not know that about the engine coupler although I guess it makes sense since if the engine were no longer coupled water wouldn't be circulating and it would overheat. So I guess that is ruled out. I live on a slip and haven't been able to get the boat out of the water to look at it. I am pretty sure it's cracked somewhere because there is a permanent oil slick behind the boat and it is not engine oil. Would that account for what I am experiencing? Basically when trying to get into gear the engine revs up and down for a bit then goes really high without ever moving the prop. The prop did look a little spun out, the side that faces the water sternward was worn circumferentially indicating that it was slipping around the nut (although it could have been on there loosely I suppose). Is there an emergent need to get the boat out of the water.? Will I cause more dfamage leaving it in but not running? I am taking on water but it isn't enough that the bilge can't handle. My buddy will be around Tuesday/Wednesday to tow to a boat launch and get it on the trailer. Thanks again gentlemen, I hope to be able to pay it forward as I get experience.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

Hi Gentlemen,

Quick update...it appears that my lower unit is shot. Can anyone point me to a place to get a decent reman'd or new one near the baltimore, md area? I am hoping to fix this over the weekend and get back to boating. Then, over the winter I plan on doing the omc to volvo conversion so I don't have this nightmare of finding parts. Thanks.

Re: Hit rock everything was fine then no forward or reverse

OUCH.. those are spendy!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OMC-Cob..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item4606ebdb43&vxp=mtr