I originally posted this in the outboard section. Just realized posted wrong, moving to I/O.
Had everyone's most dreaded nightmare... a rock below the water line. After spending hundreds of hours working on my tow vehicle and boat during the off season (got the boat for $1,100 at end of last season) to get it ready for this summer, definitely disappointed about what happened.
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Need some input, below you will find the order of events as they unfolded this past weekend. After that you will find my major questions that I need input on.
**
Boat is a 1976 Invader Continental Tri-Hull. Everything mechanical is Mercrusier. Engine is an inline 6 cylinder 250 cu in at 165 HP (MCM 165).
According to the manuals, the stern drive is the MC-I.
Run down of the "major damage" events:
Okay, so, this past weekend I hit something in the water, pretty sure it was a large rock based off of the damage. All I know is it was below the water line, made a HUGE thud...
I immediately killed engine to survey the damage. Trimmed up the stern all of the way so I could more easily see the propeller. The trim went all the way up without any issues. Surveyed the propeller and could see significant bend in one of the blades with only minor scratches on the others.
Swam under the boat, couldn't feel any hull damage.
At this point, decide I was going to go back to the launch ramp to grab spare prop and throw it on and continue.
HOWEVER, tried to hit the button to lower the stern back into the water and it would not go down. The hydraulic system sounded like it normally would, like it was pumping fine and trying to move it, but it was not actually moving. Keep in mind, I was able to raise it up immediately after the incident, but it won't go down but it sounds normal like it?s trying to go down...
I realize most "smart" boaters would have called it quits here and looked for a tow... Anyways, since I couldn't get the trim to go back down, but had everyone move to the back of the boat to keep the prop under water... Started up the boat, put it into idle, and started moving. There were not any issues other than kicking water up, but prop was fully under the water... Did this for about 10 minutes before finally deciding to flag someone down for a tow, it was taking too long in idle.
Didn't run it anymore, got tow to the ramp, and then loaded it up with ropes.
Once out, surveyed the damage, that?s when the cursing started... Right at the front of the stern drive, on the front most part of where the propeller shaft is. There was a 2" round dent in it. Around the dent was a crack and the gear fluid/oil was dripping out. I put a cup under it and was able to collect about 5 ozs of fluid before it was fully empty.
So, full summary
1) Bent prop
2) Trim system went up, but can't get it to go back down, but sounds like its running fine
3) Dent & Crack on the front bottom part of the lower unit, all fluid leaked out
Questions:
1.0) PLEASE NOTE! Disregard the rest of question 1 below. I came home today and tested the trim system and it DID succesfully go fully down! So I think the trim system is fine. I have no idea why the trim system would not go down in the water. It also would not go down when I first took it out of the water. But after letting it sit for 2 days and trying to day, it is able to fully list it up and down. It takes normal amount of time for both up and down and seems fine. Anyone have any ideas why it would not have worked on Saturday but is working fine now?
1) Any ideas why the trim system would not lower the stern drive? It had no problems raising it, it?s fully up now, but can't get it to lower... Any ideas?
1a) I don't see any damage to the hydraulic lines or the hydraulic cylinders...
1b) If I detach the hydraulic cylinders from the stern drive, am I okay to test moving them in an out with no load?
1c) Assuming I am okay to test them with no load, if they move in and out, is this an indication that I am okay? (My thoughts here are that perhaps the gears within the lower unit are "wedged" in such a way that the drive can't lower down now that it is fully up)
2) I know I messed up and should not have driven for the 10 minutes... I realize at the VERY least I will have to replace the lower unit because of the crack...
2a) What other things will I more than likely need to replace?
2b) What is the likelihood that I will need to also replace the upper unit?
3) When rotating propeller, there is now a clicking sound coming from the stern unit. It sounds about once per rotation. Keep in mind; this is while rotating it with NO gear fluid in there from it leaking out... I am hoping this clicking is a result of the damage to the front of the lower unit or from having no fluid, but is this any indication that I will need additional repairs anywhere else?
4) If I am buying a stern drive off of Craigslist, any tips on making sure I acquire the correct one? Do I just look at serial numbers and make sure it falls within the ones in my manual and make sure it?s the same design? Any "gotchas" to watch out for?
MY PLAN:-I have already located 4 different stern drives that should work with my boat on Craigslist. 2 of them are upper and lower unit for $400 and $500 (1 in great condition and other in crappy/so-so). 2 of them are for lower unit only $400 and $400 (1 in great condition, other in so-so).
-Since it looks like I will be able to buy an upper and lower unit for the same price as a lower off of Craigslist, my thought was to lean towards upper and lower. That way if I find out there is damage to the upper unit, then I already have one available
Concerns: Since the stern drive won't lower, I am concerned that even if I replace the entire stern system, that the hydraulic system might have issues... I would hate to start the repairs only to find a lot more $ that needs to be spent.
I have also added in pictures.
Picture of propeller:
Picture of zoomed out side view of damage to lower unit:
Picture of zoomed in side view of damage to lower unit:
Picture of zoomed in view from front of lower unit of damage:
Had everyone's most dreaded nightmare... a rock below the water line. After spending hundreds of hours working on my tow vehicle and boat during the off season (got the boat for $1,100 at end of last season) to get it ready for this summer, definitely disappointed about what happened.
**
Need some input, below you will find the order of events as they unfolded this past weekend. After that you will find my major questions that I need input on.
**
Boat is a 1976 Invader Continental Tri-Hull. Everything mechanical is Mercrusier. Engine is an inline 6 cylinder 250 cu in at 165 HP (MCM 165).
According to the manuals, the stern drive is the MC-I.
Run down of the "major damage" events:
Okay, so, this past weekend I hit something in the water, pretty sure it was a large rock based off of the damage. All I know is it was below the water line, made a HUGE thud...
I immediately killed engine to survey the damage. Trimmed up the stern all of the way so I could more easily see the propeller. The trim went all the way up without any issues. Surveyed the propeller and could see significant bend in one of the blades with only minor scratches on the others.
Swam under the boat, couldn't feel any hull damage.
At this point, decide I was going to go back to the launch ramp to grab spare prop and throw it on and continue.
HOWEVER, tried to hit the button to lower the stern back into the water and it would not go down. The hydraulic system sounded like it normally would, like it was pumping fine and trying to move it, but it was not actually moving. Keep in mind, I was able to raise it up immediately after the incident, but it won't go down but it sounds normal like it?s trying to go down...
I realize most "smart" boaters would have called it quits here and looked for a tow... Anyways, since I couldn't get the trim to go back down, but had everyone move to the back of the boat to keep the prop under water... Started up the boat, put it into idle, and started moving. There were not any issues other than kicking water up, but prop was fully under the water... Did this for about 10 minutes before finally deciding to flag someone down for a tow, it was taking too long in idle.
Didn't run it anymore, got tow to the ramp, and then loaded it up with ropes.
Once out, surveyed the damage, that?s when the cursing started... Right at the front of the stern drive, on the front most part of where the propeller shaft is. There was a 2" round dent in it. Around the dent was a crack and the gear fluid/oil was dripping out. I put a cup under it and was able to collect about 5 ozs of fluid before it was fully empty.
So, full summary
1) Bent prop
2) Trim system went up, but can't get it to go back down, but sounds like its running fine
3) Dent & Crack on the front bottom part of the lower unit, all fluid leaked out
Questions:
1.0) PLEASE NOTE! Disregard the rest of question 1 below. I came home today and tested the trim system and it DID succesfully go fully down! So I think the trim system is fine. I have no idea why the trim system would not go down in the water. It also would not go down when I first took it out of the water. But after letting it sit for 2 days and trying to day, it is able to fully list it up and down. It takes normal amount of time for both up and down and seems fine. Anyone have any ideas why it would not have worked on Saturday but is working fine now?
1) Any ideas why the trim system would not lower the stern drive? It had no problems raising it, it?s fully up now, but can't get it to lower... Any ideas?
1a) I don't see any damage to the hydraulic lines or the hydraulic cylinders...
1b) If I detach the hydraulic cylinders from the stern drive, am I okay to test moving them in an out with no load?
1c) Assuming I am okay to test them with no load, if they move in and out, is this an indication that I am okay? (My thoughts here are that perhaps the gears within the lower unit are "wedged" in such a way that the drive can't lower down now that it is fully up)
2) I know I messed up and should not have driven for the 10 minutes... I realize at the VERY least I will have to replace the lower unit because of the crack...
2a) What other things will I more than likely need to replace?
2b) What is the likelihood that I will need to also replace the upper unit?
3) When rotating propeller, there is now a clicking sound coming from the stern unit. It sounds about once per rotation. Keep in mind; this is while rotating it with NO gear fluid in there from it leaking out... I am hoping this clicking is a result of the damage to the front of the lower unit or from having no fluid, but is this any indication that I will need additional repairs anywhere else?
4) If I am buying a stern drive off of Craigslist, any tips on making sure I acquire the correct one? Do I just look at serial numbers and make sure it falls within the ones in my manual and make sure it?s the same design? Any "gotchas" to watch out for?
MY PLAN:-I have already located 4 different stern drives that should work with my boat on Craigslist. 2 of them are upper and lower unit for $400 and $500 (1 in great condition and other in crappy/so-so). 2 of them are for lower unit only $400 and $400 (1 in great condition, other in so-so).
-Since it looks like I will be able to buy an upper and lower unit for the same price as a lower off of Craigslist, my thought was to lean towards upper and lower. That way if I find out there is damage to the upper unit, then I already have one available
Concerns: Since the stern drive won't lower, I am concerned that even if I replace the entire stern system, that the hydraulic system might have issues... I would hate to start the repairs only to find a lot more $ that needs to be spent.
I have also added in pictures.
Picture of propeller:
Picture of zoomed out side view of damage to lower unit:
Picture of zoomed in side view of damage to lower unit:
Picture of zoomed in view from front of lower unit of damage:
