www.iFourWinns.com

I've just noticed that when slightly above idle - say 1100 RPM, I get a vibration when I turn left or right, nothing when straight. I don't notice it at idle when docking and have narrowed it down to the port engine/outdrive. At cruise speed, I don't notice any vibration - but then I'm mostly going straight.
My guess is the U-joint (am I right?). My question is if I can leave it till the end of season to fix or do I need to pull it out now? There are probably only 6 weekends left and I'd hate to miss some, but I also don't want to end up with a bigger issue because I continued to drive it in this state.
Opinions?

Steve.

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

If you get the same vibration when trimming that engine up, then yes it could be a u-joint starting to get loose or wear in the roller bearing. Usually vibs when turning or trimming up are u-joint related because that puts them at an angle from straight ahead. Noise when not turning or trimming can be the gimble bearing. How often are the drives serviced? Do they have greasable ujoints or the permanently lubed style?
It is hard to say if you'd have a problem if you run it till the end of the season. If its a very slight vibe probably not but if its quite noticeable I'd get it looked at. If a u-joint on an I/O comes apart at speed it causes catastrophic damage like taking out the gimble housing.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks, that's sorta what I expected. I'm guilty of not having had the drives pulled for the 2 years that I've owned it. It was on the plan for this fall. They have had yearly greasing (gimble) and oil changes and bellows inspection. I don't notice the vibration when I trim up at cruise, but then I don't think I trim it up very far - all the way down is below the bottom line and I typically trim it up to just past the bottom line. Or put another way, maybe 2 seconds on the button. I've trimmed higher at idle (at the beach) and not noticed it then either.

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

I just had the boat out last week for the same vibration on the port side and we found nothing. I replaced the gimball anyway the fluid was clear the ujoints were fine. The weather was terrible when she went back in so i didnt have a chance to realy test it out but i doubt it was the gimball the one we took out seemed to be fine.

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1997 278 Vista twin 5.7's

check your props for damage. If you pull the drives have the alignment checked.

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'96 200 Horizon 5.8l VP/SX