Sad times on Lake washington...

[ducatidesmo]

Well, finally find an open launch (and yes fully adhere to social distancing...becuase no one was there.. only one out was a G and thier crew with drysuits... yeah Lake Wa is still in the 50's) Tested out the new 750# bags (which work great by the way) to make sure there were no leaks... Also making sure the boat doesn't sink... well going about 8 mph under the I-90 bridge I hear a "CLUNK!!!" then I get crazy vibration above 1800 rpm. I'm thinking that something hit the prop... I pull it back to the launch, to make sure it wasn't an engine problem, I throw it in neutral just to slowly rev past 1800, all fine. pull it out of the lake... the Prop is pristine...

It's dark now so I haven't checked, but Trans? Connection to the prop shaft? Gotta call up the local dealer, but I'm pretty sure they are closed until the fourth of May... what are yal'ls thoughts?


Sad times...

[nyryan2001]

I’d tell you that you don’t know for sure it isn’t the prop.

a ding or bend can be very slight... not visible just bending down under the boat.

my bets? It’s your prop! Especially given that it appears as RPMs increase.

get after changing your prop ASAP!

[funkster]

Hate to be that guy but here in Washington we’re in a stay at home order except for “essentials”, a boat ride to test out sacks is not essential. Hope it’s nothing serious.



Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[Nautiquehunter]

I picked up a plastic bag on my prop vibrated like crazy no damage to anything.

[jtryon]

yup i'm still betting it's the prop as well.

[SatherG230]

I would agree that it is likely the prop. I had something similar happen - hit something in the water while underway. Sounded like someone dropped a small wrench in the bilge. More of a "tink" than a "clunk." Had an immediate vibration at running speed. I pulled it from the water and the prop looked fine. Checked it with a yard stick propped against something stationary and rotated the prop, taking measurements at the tip of each blade. One blade was about 1/8" off from the rest. I took it to PropMD in Plymouth MN and he checked it and agreed that one was slightly off. Only charged me $75 to go over it and get it right again. Put it back on and have been using it vibration-free ever since.

A friend of mine was able to run a visibly banged-up prop the rest of the season without ANY vibration, while on the other hand, I had vibration from one that looked fine...These props can be finicky!

[blueroom]

I have had something similar happen twice - super crazy vibrations that made the whole boat shudder (2016 G23). Both times on here everyone was positive it was the prop (even when I assured them the prop was fine), but it wasn't either time. While a prop is a very likely scenario, and you can't always tell by looking, there are more things that cause vibrations that props.

First Vibration Issue: Drive shaft to transmission coupling bolts worked loose, and everything was connected by only 2 very loose bolts. Almost a disaster if it had gotten to one bolt, and really poor assembly by Nautique. Not sure if they were out of the correct bolts that day, but the bolts from the factory didn't even extend past the end of the nut. To have all six work loose on a less than 100 hour boat was crazy.

Second Vibration Issue: Rudder assembly worked loose and had too much side to side play. Not steering slop, but the big bolts holding everything together on the rudder shaft needed adjusting to firm up the actual rudder tightness. It didn't seem like much play when you rocked it back and forth, and wouldn't have even seemed loose if I hadn't compared it to a new boat - but just enough that it created a super crazy vibration that ended our day on the water. I thought the shaft was going. It evidently takes very little rudder play to cause issues. But, this would only be noticed at speed.

[ducatidesmo]

It's down at the shop now. they are getting to the bottom of it. Gotta love our dealer up here..

[charlesml3]

Please follow-up with the resolution. Someone else may benefit from the information.

-Charles

[SilentSeven]

There's been a crap load of flotsam in Lake Washington the last few weeks as the corp of engineers raise the lake level for summer. It was REALLY bad a few weeks ago. Sounds like you whacked something. Did you use the MI ramp under I90?

[Gbracer]

I hit a brick while attaching to a mooring boat was only in gear and it bent the prop enough to make a lot of vibration, bets are that it is that

[ducatidesmo]

There's been a crap load of flotsam in Lake Washington the last few weeks as the corp of engineers raise the lake level for summer. It was REALLY bad a few weeks ago. Sounds like you whacked something. Did you use the MI ramp under I90?

across the way at the Newport ramp. That one is not really setup for inboards... it's nice, but it's LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG. Been so used to Sammamish, but it's good to have practice on another lake.

Havent gotten anything yet, I'll keep yall posted.

-Derrick

[SilentSeven]

Ok, know that one too. I actually prefer the MI ramp as it's steep but it's a sunovabtich to use when busy. No dock space and all the 7 knot boat traffic makes huge waves. Gotta be on point to run that one. I find the Newport needs more angle...hard to get the boat in deep enough without putting the rig in the water. Dock area is so much better however. How do you find them?

Good luck with a quick fix!

[SatherG230]

So....what was the resolution?

[ducatidesmo]

No Resolution just yet. Living with it until the end of the season, or if I buy a new boat. If I have to turn the boat off, I'll wait a minute while the voltage drops to nominal, and turn on the blower fan. usually enough draw to drop below 12.8, and it comes right on.

I'ts ridiculous, yes... but I still get to surf. SIDE NOTE: 21s just came out so there is a new firmware... Going to try and see if that will help.. (as well as getting the new surf wave configuration screen)