Stainless Prop

[rayn]

I just had something happen and was curious if it has happened to anyone else.

I have a 2001 Malibu Response LX and was driving in open water when all of a sudden a big crash, vibration happens.

I check the engine and then checked the prop. Guess what one of the blades is missing. It is/was a stainless prop and I do not believe I hit something.

I have already ordered a Acme 515, for delivery tomorrow, but I was just curious if this is unusaual. Luckily I was going to pick up a buddy and he was able to tow me back.

Thanks

Ray

[cbmalibu98]

Ray,

I had the same issue a few years back. I took my SS prop to the prop shop to get it put back together as a backup after I ordered a new Acme. They said I had two blades with cracks in they due to probally hitting something in the past. I could not see the cracks unless we used a magifing lense. They welded a new ear on the blade that was gone and fixed the welds on the ones that where cracked. I have never had an issue to use it since I purchased an acme prop. Good Luck

CB

[rayn]

Ray,

I had the same issue a few years back. I took my SS prop to the prop shop to get it put back together as a backup after I ordered a new Acme. They said I had two blades with cracks in they due to probally hitting something in the past. I could not see the cracks unless we used a magifing lense. They welded a new ear on the blade that was gone and fixed the welds on the ones that where cracked. I have never had an issue to use it since I purchased an acme prop. Good Luck

CB

I guess I should have searched first. Here is a thread from a couple of years ago. After reading that thread it seems like it does happen, and who knows maybe i hit something a while ago and it is just coming home to roost now. Now I just hope I did not bend the shaft. I'll find out tomorrow.

Edited May 27, 2011 by rayn

[glasslake]

Yep, same thing happened to us with our previous boat, a 98 RLX. Hope you don't end up with the dreaded HDS leak as a result of the vibration. That's such a fun added bonus. I learned about the stainless prop issues from the thread you pointed out above, but it was too late for us. The Acme will be a big improvement.

[rayn]

UPDATE:

I put the boat up on my friends lift and low and behold it did have some damage to the fiberglass, cracks around the prop shaft bracket and a gack back farther.

I changed the prop, really easy, didn't even need the prop puller and put on a new Acme 515.

I sanded all of the cracked areas and used Marine-Tex to fill in the holes. But as I was doing it, water was dripping off the prop shaft, so I am thinking I have indeed have a HDS leak, but will not find out until tomorrow when I lower the boat back in.

What does the dealer typically want to fix the HDS leak, if I do not want to tackle that one myself?

[99response]

A dealer who has a tech familiar with HDS issues can get it done in a couple hours.

Your shaft seal will leak water if the bilge water was high enough, so don't jump to an HDS leak yet.

-Chris

[rayn]

Update #2

Good News / Bad News

Good News is we lowered the boat down, it started and ran without any vibration, the new prop works well.

Bad News is I now have quite a bit of water that I never had before in the bilge so that leads me to believe I have the dreaded HDS leak

So before I bring it to East Coast Flightcraft I have a question.

I fillled the bilge with water, with the HDS box dry to see if I could find where it might be leaking. Water is seeping in along the bottom of the back of the box and nowhere else. I would insert a picture but can't figure out how. So I assume that is where the leak is?

Now the question.

Should I try to use Marine-Tex or 3M 5200 Fast Cure to try and plug the leak. I just do not want to cause the dealer to have more of a problem if what I do doesn't fix it.

[spinxt]

I ditched my SS prop for an Acme for that EXACT reason. They fail without warning. Get a new CNC prop....it will feel like you have a new boat!!!!

[BillFooter]

If I ever have damage to the hydro box I will have a shaft log installed instead of wasting money on the hydro box. One of my buddies had that done to his Sunsetter.

[85 Barefoot]

If I ever have damage to the hydro box I will have a shaft log installed instead of wasting money on the hydro box. One of my buddies had that done to his Sunsetter.

so you would have 2 logs? Trying to picture how that repair would work

[footnlongline]

so you would have 2 logs? Trying to picture how that repair would work

No, it would look like your BF nautique. Basically the HDS box is cut and a conventional log is installed down in it. There was a guy named Sunset Bob who illustrated the procedure on here some time ago.

[85 Barefoot]

No, it would look like your BF nautique. Basically the HDS box is cut and a conventional log is installed down in it. There was a guy named Sunset Bob who illustrated the procedure on here some time ago.

not mine anymore, haha

huh....reason I ask is I have vibration in my new to me 98 response that has definitely had box work done. Might take some pics and let crew advise.

[footnlongline]

not mine anymore, haha

huh....reason I ask is I have vibration in my new to me 98 response that has definitely had box work done. Might take some pics and let crew advise.

Glad ya sold it....sort of. Anyway, I wouldn't think the HDS box work is the source of your vibration unless they did a shaft log and installed the box cover. From what I could tell, the shaft log procedure seemed to be a big job, I'm glad mine came with one from the factory.

[BillFooter]

If I ever have damage to the hydro box I will have a shaft log installed instead of wasting money on the hydro box. One of my buddies had that done to his Sunsetter.

This is how the shaft log repair is done. This was not my buddies boat, but is the same process.

http://www.everglass.org/shaftlog.htm