G23 Prop Fell Off .....

[markj]

Has anyone had two shafts break on the same boat? Are they using the same exact brand/type of shaft as a replacement?

[nyryan2001]

So as I look at that pic he posted where he shaft broke.... there is near ZERO chance that mine could break there where his did. Jeff is wrong--- that is NOT where all the others have been previously breaking... they've been breaking right after that prop strut. Not 1" down from the prop strut. That exact spot where his broke would be exactly covered in the middle of my prop hub. I have roughly 1/8" or less space to even see the prop shaft between the end of the prop hub and the beginning of the prop strut. In fact it's so close you have to grind down a prop puller to even be able to slide in there into position.

there are only 2 possible ways that could have broke there like that on my boat:

1. Prop (with correct 1 1/4" hub) was very loose... and in sliding around on the prop shaft. That break spot would have been covered by the prop.

2. Incorrect prop (1 1/8" hub) was on there... and as such was way far back on the prop shaft.

ive changed probrably 15 props on Gs. I know them very very well.

[nyryan2001]

And does anyone else see that dark ring right before the break? That's a tempered heat stain.... suggesting that portion of the shaft was super hot right before it broke.

[Laptom]

A prop cannot be loose. When moving forward the prop is being pushed further on the shaft.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G901F met Tapatalk

[nyryan2001]

If you had the wrong diameter hub'd prop on there it wouldn't have the proper taper to match the shaft. Stationary it would seem and appear solid. Under load it would pivot around, with improper mounting surface to mount to.

the taper on the 1 1/8" hub would not match the taper of the 1 1/4" shaft. Although it would appear a solid mount. Instead of matching perfectly and distributing the load of the prop over the 2-3" length of the entire prop hub.... the wrong hub would put the entire force of the prop on a single thin line around the shaft...along with the prop pivoting some on the shaft. Where yours broke would be impossible for me... that break point would have been 1/2 way under my prop hub.

or it could have just been a defective freak materials. There haven't been many... or any other 1.25" shafts breaking.

we need to understand how it broker UNDER your prop hub... or why so far back. This suggests it was sitting way further back on the prop shaft.

[NautiqueJeff]

Jeff is wrong--- that is NOT where all the others have been previously breaking...

Interesting. Here are some pictures of others that have broken. Sure looks like a similar spot to me. Longhorn's might be just a tiny bit further down than some, but the general location is certainly similar.

Here's Longhorn's prop shaft:



Here are six others I found with a quick Google search:

Shaft 1:


Shaft 2:


Shaft 3:


Shaft 4:


Shaft 5:


Shaft 6:

[Longhorn1186]

Most of those seem to have the dark ring as well. As for my prop and boat. Once again, had 30 hours even on it. Was in 80 feet deep water. Smooth water but broke off going over the crest of a small wave from another boat. I check the prop before each outing and it was normal, no wiggle or unusual movement. Original prop on the boat from the day I bought it.

[Tallredrider]

"2 boats hardly make it an issue". Hey, fan boy. Wake up!!! That is 2 boats (admitted) from ONE dealer. This is going on 5 years now (2013-2017)...And lake you said no other mfgr has the problem.

It happened to prior owner of my 2014 g21, which he had repaired. So guess what? When I bought the boat I still keep the trolling motor in the back storage compartment.

BAD NEWS: Nautique propellers fall into lakes.
GOOD NEWS: Nautique storage is great, room for trolling motor.

I think you should take a chill pill. I am far from a fan boy. I like all inboards, and call them all out equally when they perform poorly.

Thanks for pointing it out, since I did not clearly identify that they were at the same dealership. As of right now, it still is only 2 boats that have had this problem since the thicker shaft was installed, unless Longhorn tells us he has information from corporate that it involves more. I've not heard of any breaks since the larger shaft was installed which really makes me question if the dealership is somehow contributing. Has anyone heard of this during the entire 2015 and 2016 model runs? Same shaft and same prop.

Based on what I know now, I am still going to call it coincidence, or dealer error. I am not going to 'Fanboy' the situation, it needs watching, which is what I said before. But I don't think everyone should hit the panic button and drop their G's because of what we know to this point, which I guess is what Scottb seems to suggest. Nor am I going to get a trolling motor.

[Longhorn1186]

I think you should take a chill pill. I am far from a fan boy. I like all inboards, and call them all out equally when they perform poorly.

Thanks for pointing it out, since I did not clearly identify that they were at the same dealership. As of right now, it still is only 2 boats that have had this problem since the thicker shaft was installed, unless Longhorn tells us he has information from corporate that it involves more. I've not heard of any breaks since the larger shaft was installed which really makes me question if the dealership is somehow contributing. Has anyone heard of this during the entire 2015 and 2016 model runs? Same shaft and same prop.

Based on what I know now, I am still going to call it coincidence, or dealer error. I am not going to 'Fanboy' the situation, it needs watching, which is what I said before. But I don't think everyone should hit the panic button and drop their G's because of what we know to this point, which I guess is what Scottb seems to suggest. Nor am I going to get a trolling motor.

Ha. The trolling motor part makes me laugh. Question for you. How would the dealer be involved with this. This was a brand new boat from Nautique. The dealer has been nothing but professional and very very good at what they do. They are also hands down the best dealership in terms of mx and customer service I have ever dealt with. I have owned a Malibu before and now my G and the Nautique dealer has been amazing. As for two boats. This particular dealer has seen 2 current year G's with prop shaft breaks. They saw quite a few back in 2013 and 2014 which was a known issue but they as well thought the prop issue was sorted out so they were a little surprised to see a broken shaft. I am chalking this up to a freak bad shaft. It happens although it should not. Like I said before, they are machines and they can break. Nautique has been great every step of this and is taking care of EVERYTHING.

[JD ski]

Correct me if I am wrong, but boats are usually shipped without the prop on. The Props are installed at the dealer. If the dealer has a new guy working that does not know how to properly lap a prop onto a shaft, it could be causing the dark ring around the remaining portion of the shaft in the pictures we have seen. Not being properly lapped could be causing a vibration/heat weakening the shaft. This could be a contributing factor or not, and why certain dealers are seeing this problem and others not having problems, otherwise back to a metallurgy issue. Glad Nautique is taking good care of you.

[Quinner]

there are only 2 possible ways that could have broke there like that on my boat:

1. Prop (with correct 1 1/4" hub) was very loose... and in sliding around on the prop shaft. That break spot would have been covered by the prop.

2. Incorrect prop (1 1/8" hub) was on there... and as such was way far back on the prop shaft.

ive changed probrably 15 props on Gs. I know them very very well.

Google "prop lapping", if you think a prop could be installed with the wrong tapper or be "loose" I am guessing you are not installing your props correctly, if you follow the proper lapping steps, as the factory or dealer absolutely should, the prop was installed correctly and is most likely not the issue.

[scottb7]

Yeah, whatever. Prop lapping has 0 to do with only G-series boats propeller shafts breaking...Come on boys.

[nyryan2001]

Google "prop lapping", if you think a prop could be installed with the wrong tapper or be "loose" I am guessing you are not installing your props correctly, if you follow the proper lapping steps, as the factory or dealer absolutely should, the prop was installed correctly and is most likely not the issue.

Read the thread Quinner. I don't have problems, OP does.

trying to figure out how his broke over an inch further down than others... presumably UNDER the prop hub if everything was installed correctly. or..... why was his correct prop sitting so far down on the prop shaft.

[charlesml3]

Yeah, whatever. Prop lapping has 0 to do with only G-series boats propeller shafts breaking...Come on boys.

Agreed. We drove inboards for decades without "lapping" a prop onto a shaft. Put the key on the shaft, slide the prop on, tighten the nut and (on some boats) run a stainless steel cotter pin through it to lock it.

It isn't rocket surgery.

-Charles

[Quinner]

Read the thread Quinner. I don't have problems.

Oh, okay, lmao

This thread is as broken as the OP's shaft!!

OP, glad everything is getting squared away for ya, enjoy the rest of your season!!