Help - Weird transmission vibration on 2017 Wakesetter

[NortherlyBoot88]

First post here, thanks for the add to the group! So, I purchased a new to me 2017 Wakesetter 23LSV in December of last year. The boat has ran absolutely flawless in the first 50 hours that I’ve put on it (bought with 100 hours), with the exception of very rare, random vibration that seems to be coming from the transmission / driveshaft / prop.

 

It’s happened about 5 times at this point over the span of 4 months and tends to happen if I am at higher RPMs traveling across the lake to get to another spot. For the purposes of this conversation, let’s say 4,000 - 4,800RPMs for approximately 30 minutes. FYI, this boat has the 410 6.2L Raptor motor and is paired with a 2249 prop. 
 

When this actually does happen, I get medium to heavy vibration that seems like is occurring in the transmission and affecting prop spin. I’ve been told everything from something could be caught around the prop, to running over algae underwater that again impedes prop spin, to bad gas that is causing the engine to intermittently cut out. All engine vitals remain normal and it goes away after I throttle down or sit at idle for a second.
 

Has any one dealt with something like this?

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[gregtay]

It's possible it is just prop cavitation.  Does this happen in both rough and smooth water?

[NortherlyBoot88]

Yes, its happened on really smooth water and slightly choppy water. I wouldn’t be going 30 mph+ on really rough water for any extended amount of time because the ride would just be brutal and basically beat us to death. 
 

I’m not the most familiar with prop cavitation. Is there a fix for that?

[Hemmy]

7 minutes ago, NortherlyBoot88 said:

Yes, its happened on really smooth water and slightly choppy water. I wouldn’t be going 30 mph+ on really rough water for any extended amount of time because the ride would just be brutal and basically beat us to death. 
 

I’m not the most familiar with prop cavitation. Is there a fix for that?

You might have a ding in your prop.  Inspect your prop.

[NortherlyBoot88]

I inspected the prop and shaft after getting off the water lastnight and didn’t feel or physically see any dings on the prop. The shaft looked fine as well. 
 

The vibration always goes away after I stop for a second once it happens. If you had to put it on a % scale, I deal with that type of vibration 2% of the time running the boat so I’m hesitant to say this is a prop issue. The cavitation suggestion makes a lot of sense to me though.