steering loose and vibration after i hit floating debris

[natedog]

So today after just getting on the lake i hit some floating debris and felt it contact the prop with force and i immediately shut it down got in the water and checked rudder, prop and tracking fins for damage but could not feel any or see anything new. i say new because i dinged the prop a few weeks ago but it ran fine since i dinged it then and ive been out several times since. i started to head out again and felt some vibration and the steering was very loose at higher speeds, it felt as loose as when you are going 5-10 mph. got the boat on the trailer and could not see any new damage other than the ding that was already there. also my nautique tech told me a month ago that my shaft needed alignment because it was very hard to move the prop out of the water and today after hitting the debris and pulling the boat on the trailer i moved the prop easily, any thoughts on what might have happened, why the steering is so loose? im guessing the vibration is from the shaft, i am wondering if its an alignment issue it doesn't look damaged. the boat is a 96 SS, had it out thursday and it ran fine fyi.

thanks

[dtox37]

Sounds like the prop is jacked. I know the vibration only too well as a buddy jacked my prop yesterday. Loose steering I can only offer the hypothesis that maybe the irregular flow off the prop...my .02 good luck. Any prop shop can reshape your prop much cheaper than replacement.

[natedog]

dtox37, where in texas are you? do you know of a good prop shop around austin, san antonio? its just weird though bc the ding did not affect the steering before or vibrate before and there is nothing new as far as damage to the prop yesterday.

[dtox37]

I'm in Dallas so I can't help you down your way. Buy a dozen donuts for your local dealer mechanic and pick his brain.