What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

[jp77431]

Greetings! I'm new to this forum. Perhaps like many of you, I was moved to join because I need your advice. I hope to return the favor many times over.

Yesterday, I drove a Wellcraft equipped with a 2001 model year Volvo 5.0GL with an SX outdrive. Specifically, I drove it aground navigating on a moonless night. And yes, my GPS was resting comfortably in my truck.

The propeller -- a 15X17 aluminum unit, was damaged. A quarter-sized piece broke off from the tip. Otherwise, the tips were bent moderately with one leading edge warped slightly. I nursed the boat back and changed the prop and the boat did the following:

• Ran fine with no detectable difference in vibration.
• Shifted smoothly.
• Made no new noises.
• And the drive raises and lowers normally.

So that means something's wrong! Right? The outdrive was scratched, but the skeg was not broken or even bent. The hull was untouched. I was going about 15 MPH and it appeared that I hit no large rocks.

Talk to me about the long term latent damage that has occured. Confirm my suspicion that something serious has happened. I KNOW I'm in trouble. At least that's what I suspect. Here's why:

There is no way in hell that Volvo designed this unit to tolerate running aground. It makes no business sense to do that.

I removed the propeller (that I just changed) and ran the boat to observe the propshaft for evidence of bending. There is a slight wobble. So very slight -- less than 1/16th of an inch. Is THAT normal? Should you be able to detect any run-out or wobble of the propshaft?

I'm debating on whether to file an insurance claim to have the unit rebuilt. I am admittedly anal about boat maintainace (soon to be replaced by anality about GPS use and night operation). All kidding aside, I'm sure that there is nothing wrong, but I can't help but believe that running aground will cause the outdrive to fall apart in a few years like the police cruiser in the Blues Brothers. If I don't file a claim now, I will lose the ability to get it fixed. Any insight would be appreciated.

Siggie

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

Consider yourself lucky you didn't break the drive.

If there's no vibration it's unlikely you bent the prop shaft.


Take your GPS next time!



Regards,


Rick

 

[Redneck Yacht Club]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

Ya need to check prop run out (bend in the prop shaft) with a dial indictor. There are limits to a bent prop shaft, that the eye can't see.
If ya can see its bent, its bad

 

[jp77431]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

It happened on Don Pedro Lake, one of the largest lakes in Nortrhern California. I know that lake like the back of my hand and made that run many times. I got over-confident. To any newbies to boating: At night, you can't judge distances and it is exceptionally easy to run aground.

Rick, you're 100% right. I've been boating for 23 years -- ocean to lake, and I'm still learning about it. Take the GPS!

 

[mikeneal]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

I live/boat in the shallow waters around Tampabay and have run my VP SX aground a couple times. Granted a chunk out of the prop is not an easy one but aluminum gives pretty easily. Volvo did indeed design the drive so that the trim cylinders have a pressure by-pass so they are not hydrolically locked down. I will look up the acceptable run-out tolerance of the prop shaft, that seems like a lot. Are you sure it is an 1/16th of inch? I would think that would cause vibration.

 

[jp77431]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

That's it. I'm filing a claim.

It is definitely about 1/16th. I observed that at the end of the shaft, not at the base.

Thanks,

Siggie

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

That's a big lake. I have looked at those lakes for years and wondered what it would be like to run on it...


With minor damage on an aluminum prop it's unlikely that you bent the shaft.

Did you put a dial indicator on it or did you eyeball it?

 

[jp77431]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

It is big. I've navigated it with a compass and map, and got so good that I would regularly drive the lake with no navigation aids at all. How confident am I?

I once drove a woman and her 2 month old son from one end to the other at 3AM to get her to a hospital. My wife accompanied us.

I'm also a pilot and am accustomed to trusting in my ability. Unfortunately, the lake level has dropped 40 feet this year. Lots of new obstacles presented themselves and with no moonlight I got caught.

Frankly, I'm embarrassed.

I eye-balled it. I can see wooble. I called the insurance company and filed a claim a half hour ago. Redneck's reply worried me. I just don't want to get caught owning a ticking time-bomb problem that might result in a bearing or seal failure 2 years from now.

At the same time, given the quality of repair I've seen locally, I am worried that having someone rebuild the drive might cause more damage than leaving it alone.

Siggie

 

[uaw9fan]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

As previously stated, you probably have a bent prop shaft. Hard to tell if you should have the drive rebuilt.I would replace the propshaft and definitely make sure they replace the drive coupler on the vertical shaft.It is also called the drive saver and is scored so that it is the weak link in an impact and will break in half. Obviously yours isn't broken but I'll bet that when you pull the lower you will find it twisted.

 

[erlindbl]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

I ran aground at parker with my 84 OMC sterndrive. Took two ears off the aluminum prop and a little chunk off the skag. I replaced the prop and it ran fine the next three times I ran it. On the fourth, the outdrive went out and I had to have it rebuilt at the tune of about $1500.00. Of course I hit bottom at about 35MPH so it may not be applicable to your situation......

 

[peacekeeper6]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

i have to of course throw in my story, i had a 125 HP force L drive. this is supposed to be the wost drive ever. Well me and some buddys were hauling AS* along the rivers here in SC, trying to get back before tide was all the way out. needless to say we didnt make it, i hit a sand bar at 35 MPH full tilt. Stopped the boat cold. Tuyrned the motor off removed my buddy from the floor and helped the other abck into the boat. pushed the boat the rest of the way off the bar, drove it home and ran it for another season. i actually just talked to the guy who owns it now and besides a rotten floor its still riding smooth with no rebuild. so you might be fine.

 

[jp77431]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

Thanks all for the replies.

So, I've been reading threads and here are my conclusions for any other newbie who runs aground.

1. Don't feel bad. Running aground is pretty common. You're in good company.

2. Equip your boat with EFFECTIVE equipment to protect against the event and USE THEM. That includes a good deep sounding unit with an alarm, and a GPS, if you're motoring at night.

3. Ensure your boat well, or don't boat at all.

4. If the damage is enough to bend your propeller, file a claim and have the outdrive inspected -- and repaired if necessary. There is no way to determine if the damage is great enough that it will cause serious problems in the future. Your boat is a big investment of disposable income and there is no reason to take a chance. Unless there is a change in operation (shifting, noises, vibration, steering) or other serious visible damage the damage done is not clearly visible. In most cases, no repairs, beyond an outdrive repainting and propeller change are neeeded. But there is no test, set of rules or other advice that can be given to assure you that your outdrive has suffered serious damage. You must have it inspected.

That's how I would summarize everything I've read. I've filed a claim and will keep you posted as to what happens.

Thanks all,

Siggie

 

[jp77431]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

An update on the story:

I took the boat to a repair facility. The mechanic removed the propellor observed the shaft -- and I do mean he just LOOKED at it. He spun the shaft, put the prop back on and proclaimed that i didn't do any serious damage. "Go enjoy the boat!"

This boat is my second largest investment. That answer did not sit well with me.

So, I took the boat to a local San Jose Volvo repair facility. I don't know exactly what happened, but the propellor was NOT removed by this authorized Volvo facility. The mechanic spun the prop and observed that there was no wobble. He seemed honest and really felt there was no serious damage. No dial indicator to measure the propshaft, no dropping the outdrive to observe the coupling. None of that.

As an added slap in the face the owner of the shop charged me $120/hour without telling me as the mechanic talked about what he found. The mechanic was casual, and even told me about his boat, his fishing exploits and various other topics.

Little did I know, I was being charged. The bill for this test ran $280 -- U.S. dollars.

The other major dealer in the San Jose area is such a sleazeball I couldn't take the boat to him. So now, I have two opinions from mechanics -- based on eyeballing the prop. Would you trust YOUR boat to that?

Siggie

 

[orion25]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

Why not trust them. They could have sold you more parts and labor but did not. I usually trust mechanics that say I have nothing to worry about. When they give me a big estimate I look for a 2nd opinion..............

 

[Robj]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

If you really want to be sure, go and buy a manual and dial indicator, measure the runout of the prop shaft. if it is within spec, you are OK, if not file a claim. It is not unlikely that it did not do any damage. Remember that the prop is aluminum. If it was SS, that may be a different story. Another option, get the prop fixed or buy a new one and take it for a boot and check for vibration.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

After wolloping a few rocks with an SS prop I encounted vibrations with the spare prop. I checked my propshaft on my VP sx by taking off the prop, putting on the muffs, firing it up and while it was running in gear put the tip of a pencil in the countersink on the end of the shaft. There was a definate, though small shaking of the pencil which indicated the shaft was bent. The bend was in the last 2 1/2 inches of the shaft, just inward of the splines, about .025" at the countersink
Took boat in and was up and running in 3 days and a bill. the shaft alone was about $450 US dealer net.

 

[jp77431]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

Thanks for the great posts. This is a good boating forum.

Hopefully, some other person who experiences this problem may benefit from this.

I spoke to a REAL Volvo mechanic. His shop is hours away from San Jose, California. His guidance was that the propshaft has only a 0.010 inch tolerance on run-out. From my memory, a piece of paper is 0.003 inches thick. It is almost impossible to eyeball if the shaft is bent out of tolerance unless is it grossly bent. His shop has a routine where any kind of outdrive damage evaluation (from grounding) includes a dial indicator measurement in 3 places to ensure the shaft was not bent.

As bad, a grounding can damage the propshaft seal. Any competant shop should drain the outdive oil to check for water or metal shavings. Of course my mechanic did not do either of those things.

Last, the drive should be dropped to check the coupler for damage.

He was shocked that I spent $290 and none of these things were done. I call it "situation normal." I own a boat and that comes with the responsibility to get ripped off by shops that feel I'm rich enough to provide welfare to them. I'm mad. Especially the stunt that this shop pulled billing me to talk to the mechanic without telling me. He's telling me about his fishing boat and unbeknownst to me, I'm being charged $2 a minute to listen politely.

My next move is to contact Volvo. I do that tomorrow.

Owning a boat is like owning an F-14. Every hour of enjoyment is accompanied by hours of fixing and expense. How the hell I did this for 22 years is beyond me.

 

[orion25]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

I own a boat and that comes with the responsibility to get ripped off by shops that feel I'm rich enough to provide welfare to them. I'm mad. Especially the stunt that this shop pulled billing me to talk to the mechanic without telling me. He's telling me about his fishing boat and unbeknownst to me, I'm being charged $2 a minute to listen politely.

My next move is to contact Volvo. I do that tomorrow.

Contact Volvo and ask them what the true tolerances are. If the first 2 shops were off then report them to Volvo. Same for the third. Then contact the shops that were wrong and ask to speak to the owner or manager. Explain the situation and explain that you want this problem rectified (especially if the $290 shop is wrong) and you will contact the BBB if necessary. Also explain that you are a member here and there are THOUSANDS of boaters that are reading about your experiences and you would prefer to keep this matter quiet and get it resolved. Finally, drop by the BBB website. for your area and post your concerns if the resolution is not satisfactory. Also post shop names here if necessary..

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

call volvo, dont expect much.
I happen to work for a volvo dealer.
we dont get much support anyway.
however do have the runout checked, if nothing else a dail indicator and magnetic base can be had for less than 70 dollars.
the propshaft can be replaced in an hour or less if needed.

 

[msd58]

Re: What to do when you run a Volvo SX aground

I would let your ins co know you hit something for cover yourself in the future.