www.iFourWinns.com

You'd get a vibration on a DPS if one or other of the props is damaged; admittedly, if the shafts are bent you'd also get a vibration. From experience, ia pretty hefty whack will bend the outer shaft, which is the most vulnerable. Mine was bent after an arguement with a lobser pot/ steel hawser, but only just outside spec in terms of shaft runout. Do the props look new or repaired? I'd imagine worn U/Js would also vibrate ( replaceable on a boat of 1998 vintage).

The paddle wheel is purely electrical: a magnet in the paddle which passes a sensor and passes a pulse to the speedo

Graham

they look like they came with the boat but looks perfect. no nicks or scratches on the props at all.

If they look original ( and the skeg looks unrepaired- but difficult to tell if it's been done well), my guess would be it's not the props/ lower unit.

Graham

well went last night and hooked a water hose to it and it was also making a tapping noise in the lower unit. he said he will take it apart when he gets a chance but I dont know weather to walk away from it or not. its a good deal on the boat but scares me with only 110 hours on it and the lower end has a problem