Prop problem?
 

I have a 97 241 Talari that I bought from a friend last season. It has a 7.4 Mercruiser and Bravo I. I am a relative newbie to boats.

We went out yesterday for a 45-minute spin around the lake. No problems getting up to plane and full speed. Near the end of the ride, 5 mins from the marina, started out from a dead stop with the trim set all the way down. Within a few seconds the engine was revving toward redline and we were going very slow. I backed off, and checked behind the boat. Plenty of turbulence behind the prop, we just weren't going anywhere.

I tried reverse, and it seemed to work at low speed. I tried forward again, easing into it, and the boat would only go slowly forward, at idle, before revving way up again. We had to idle all the way back to the slip, which took about 30 minutes. I didn't hear any weird sounds during all this, just normal engine and drive noise.

Back on the lift, with the outdrive all the way up in "trailer" position, we shoved the throttle forward to put it in gear, then tried turning the prop. It turns, and the shaft turns, too. We took off the nut and the prop, and looked at the shaft. The splined shafts looks to be in good condition. We are already in over our head, and plan to take the boat to a mechanic.

Any thoughts on what's happened? Should we try to fix it ourselves? My buddy and I are decent shade-tree mechanics, but know little about boats.

Thanks!
Curtis

Re: Prop problem?
 

Sounds like a spun hub on your prop. A 30 dollar fix to get it re-hubbed or get a new prop.

Re: Prop problem?
 

One guy we talked to said the shaft wouldn't spin in gear unless it was something serious. With a spun hub, I guess you're saying the shaft WILL turn... right?

Thanks,
Curtis

Re: Prop problem?
 

So I marked the prop and reinstalled it. I then pulled the boat out of the slip, and ran it forward a hundred feet or so. I tried giving it some throttle, and of course it was still slipping badly.

I brought it back to the slip and looked at my marks. See the photos attached. The marks are way off, so I am thinking the hub is no good. I am headed to the prop shop tomorrow.

Re: Prop problem?
 

Good diagnosis.

BTW my sister lives in tulsa. It is a very nice town.