www.iFourWinns.com

I was cruising approx 15 knots until I hit something. It sounded like my outdrive just slipped out of gear. Quite a bang though. Shut the engine immediately and threw anchor. Raised the outdrive to see all 3 blades on the large prop were bent. Shifted into forward. Props turn in both directions. Same in reverse. Took the cover off. linkage shifted normally. After the time spent troubleshooting and calling the towing service I could see the the rocks I hit. The tide was going out. Couldn't see them. I was lucky my boat doesn't have a hole in it. My question is. After an incident like this, am I better off replacing the entire drive being 12 years old or is it safe to assume it's just the lower unit. I won't be replacing until spring. Anyone know of a reputable place in the NY area to purchase a new or rebuild? Anyone have a good experience ordering online. My marina is good but they will be $$$$$$$$. BOAT= break out another thousand. Thanks, Todd

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Todd
1999 258 Vista
Volvo Penta 5.7 GSI
DP-SM

Todd, I don't want to be captain obvious, but isn't this something your insurance company would cover?

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

+1

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

When you hit bottom with your prop, there is a shaft coupling that is supposed to break-away to protect the lower unit. Don't ask me how I know this.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Well a funny thing (not really) happened to me this weekend after almost 20 years of "not hitting bottom with my prop" boating. Next weekend I have to go back to the marina and put the boat on the trailer to check the damage. I do know one of the props is bent but most folks I've spoken with state the lower unit should be fine. If no obvious damage other than the bent prop I figure I'll just replace it. I do wonder though if the lower unit should be checked either way??

Kevin

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Kevin
'06 V278
8.1 L Volvo
"Heart's Content II"

Insurance co pays 55% depreciation because of the age of the drive. Still need to pull the boat to get an estimate. At least they cover the haul out 100%

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Todd
1999 258 Vista
Volvo Penta 5.7 GSI
DP-SM

You might look into having your prop(s) rebuilt. I have had mine done and it saved lots of $$$. Stainless props are awfully expensive. Not sure where you're located, but in North Texas there is a place that rebuilds them in a couple of days.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Curious about the prop rebuild....did everything seem fine afterwards? I'm up near Toronto (Ontario, Canada) but did speak with a Volvo Penta dealer near me today. I was inquiring about a prop wrench and asked about replacement cost for the propeller (he said about $800 but I wondered afterwards if he realized it was SS - not aluminum). Anyway he mentioned that they will repair the prop for around $250.00

Tomorrow I'll put it on my trailer and see how things look. I do like the idea of the rebuild so hopefully that will work out OK.

Thanks!!

Kevin

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Kevin
'06 V278
8.1 L Volvo
"Heart's Content II"

My dealer dinged the prop when they shipped it and my boat arrived with no prop Grrrreat!!! I bitched like a madman about not having my original pair to go boating and mentioned legal action so they sent me a new pair of DP and the rebuilt pair also. I have gone out with both and can't notice a difference between them. I actually kept the rebuilt pair on the boat and have the new pair in my garage just in case. From what I hear the DP is 700 or more for the pair so 250 to rebuild them sounds like a bargain and trust me you won't see any difference in speed at least I haven't. Good luck, BTW if your installing the props yourself make sure you grease the splines with the proper marine grease and don't do what I did untighten and tighten the rear bolt with a torgue wrench from beginning to end it screwed up my torque wrench. My uncle a gm tech told me you untighten with a regular wrench and tighten it up to a point and only use the torque wrench for two clicks or so to make sure it doesn't hurt the internals. I hope this helped

The grease on the prop shaft splines is a must esp on Volvo DPs...
The best one I have found is OMC/Bombardier triple guard grease, this is a very thick sticky water proof grease that sticks like crazy, I put it on the prop shaft in April, boat goes in salt water in May, comes out in Oct and the grease is still there, prop would fall off with out the nut. Same on the driveshaft splines, the grease is still there and looks new when I remove the drive each fall. I use this stuff on my vehicles too, door checks, hinges, nuts and bolts prone to rust. Better than anti seize....just not for high heat...

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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

Hey Jafo4U - thanks for the rebuild feedback. That makes me feel much better. Good thought on doing the lube job while it's apart. I'll take your advice on the torque wrench...mine has a nice long handle so it's tempting to use it for extra leverage when removing the rear bolt.

Thanks LouC for the recommendation also. I'll be checking with marine store where I've ordered the prop wrench (pick that up Monday or Tuesday).

Well I put the boat up on the trailer today to get a better look at things. It seems that only the outer propeller is damaged. It has a bend in one of the fins but everything else looks good. I was in the process of bringing the boat up on plane when it hit (still shaking my head that I let it happen so the rear prop would have been deepest in the water. So I'll go back to remove the prop and send it in for the rebuild....if that all works out OK I'll be about $300 poorer. I initially figured a much higher amount so I'll gladly take it as a lesson learned

Thanks again!

Kevin

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Kevin
'06 V278
8.1 L Volvo
"Heart's Content II"

When I hit bottom, I also had a bend in the fin and the boat tech refused to try and bend it back for fear of it breaking. I left it as is and didn't notice it running any different.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

What about your skeg? Can't imagine you didn't ding that as well. Check it while you're at it.

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

I haven't taken the boat out of the water yet. Probably next week since I'm off. When I raised the outdrive I noticed the outer prop has one bent blade. Can be straightened and tuned. The large prop is another story. Chewed up pretty bad. I do have a spare from the previous owner. The skeg has been sheared off about half way.

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Todd
1999 258 Vista
Volvo Penta 5.7 GSI
DP-SM