From Great to Terrible

[Jeff W]

Ahhh.. Good old Labor Day weekend. Loaded down the boat with friends, went to a new lake and had a great day.

Until.

On the way back to the launch - we run through a channel (idle speed). We pass the last buoy, I slowly accelerate and BOOM. Rock. Huge one.

I swim underneath the boat and I am literally SHOCKED at what I find. My rudder? Gone. 100% sheered off. There is a 1/2" stub sticking out the bottom of the boat and a copper "plug" now resides. My prop is lightly chewed up. The bracket right near the prop bent so the whole prop shaft is sitting about 1-2" crooked. There is also a one inch gash in my fiberglass right next to where the rudder USED to reside.

Great.

So now I'll begin the journey of getting this fixed. My summer is over as far as boating is concerned. I know NOTHING about the insurance aspect of my boat policy - I've never had to use it. Will this be covered? We have a full coverage policy required (as we have a note on the boat) so I assume I will pay my deductible and it will get fixed?

We have an 02' direct drive Outback. Can anyone advise a new prop? The boat is going be used 80% wakeboarding, 10% slalom and 10% tooling around and tubing. Next summer we will run light ballast. Maybe 1000 lbs regularly plus crew. I don't want to OVER prop it but should I upgrade from the factory pitched 3 blade?

Has ANYONE ever had this happen? I can't imagine I'm the first person to have this happen on the forum, am I? Needless to say - an 8 hour day of awesomeness was dampered (for me) by this damn rock. I was LITERALLY 5 minutes away from putting this thing on the trailer and calling it a day. It was the LAST channel (a channel I had been through 4 times that day).

Any thoughts, advice, condolences, etc? I've never had a "wreck" in my boat so this is all new to me. My wife (god bless her) keeps telling me to relax and that being upset/etc wont help.. It's true, I know.. But to her - its her "boat". For me, it's my "baby"..

Anything? New prop? Advice?


Also, if anyone from Minnesota has any advice - IF insurance covers this I'll be able to have it fixed wherever. I have been recommended to Anchor Marine by a buddy but I am thinking I will bring it to MN Inboard. I haven't heard anything good about Forrest Lake Motorsports (only true Moomba dealer) but I'd listen to your argument for them over MN Inboard if you had one. MW Mastercraft is snobbish - I think I'll pass..

Sucky day. I know it will get fixed - but it's a bummer.

So, now

[BensonWdby]

Jeff -

So sorry to hear about this - I can only imagine.. I hit a rock on Bald Eagle and just tweaked the prop and I went ballistic. This is hugely stressful. I have never put in a claim for Boat insurance so I don't know how it goes. I bet is depends largely on who the carrier is. It sure seems like this is the kind of thing we get insurance for.

Cheers to you for getting it on the trailer. Where were you ? Prior Lake?

I have had good luck with Forrest Lake MS. But never anything major. I have them do all my winterizing. Once they even got me up and running at no charge when I did someting stupid that made me think there was something wrong. I'll tell you about it some time...

Now Cory from MW MC is on this board from time to time - I bet he could take care of you.

I guess this week on Marion is a bust.... Maybe next year...

Dave

[Razzman]

It's covered so don't worry. My brother in law did the same thing in July except it ripped the whole rudder plate through the hull and the boat almost sank! Had it back in the water within 30 days.

[deerfield]

Jeff - I'm sorry about the damage and disappointment today. I trust insurance will cover repair and the deductible is manageable. Hope you are soon back on the water. - Deerfield

[Klipper]

same thing happened to me.... I just bought the boat 2 days ago and only put 1 hour on it before i hit a rock and bent the prop, shaft, rudder, and some gelcoat cracking around the rudder mount.

I've been through the channel 150 times for the past 20 years and never had a problem...

Currently mourning the loss.... it happened on friday..... boat is at the dealer waiting for insurance adjuster.

support group welcome!!

[jeffandkaren]

I bought my boat at forest lake motorsports they are awesome great service department I would highly recommend them. Where were you on the mississippi?? We live in Saint Paul, boat is usually at cabin in Wisconsin.

Jeff

[MEDIC151]

I damaged my XLV one month after getting it. I hit a tree in 28 feet of water and it bent the shaft and strut. I took it in and insurance paid for the repair with the exception of the deductible. I took it out for a lake test with the mechanics before I accepted it back. Everything was good. Hope everything turns out good.

[lrock]

Sorry about the boat. For the prop, call OJ Props (Johnson Propeller Co., Inc
Toll-Free: 800-359-9730). They will ask you several questions and tell you exact prop you need.

Lrock

[Jeff W]

Thank you to EVERYONE for all of the support and information.

A couple of things.

1. I was on Prior Lake. Never again. Nice enough lake but after this ordeal - I'm done there. I will stick to Marion, Minnetonka, Bryant and Christmas - the lakes that I know.

2. I will call Forrest Lake MC. I'm actually glad to hear some good experiences, I have only casually heard about them and a couple were less than thrilled. Although MN Inboard will be my pick due to proximity as they are literally 5 miles down the road compared to 35 miles north.

3. All is not lost for the summer. This is why they make rash guards and wet suits. I will be riding by late in the month - I am DETERMINED.


Most importantly - thank you guys so much for letting me know I'm not the only idiot to have this happen and also thank you for calming my nerves about insurance. I will update this post tomorrow as more info is unraveled.

Thanks you guys - I appreciate it more than I can type here. I will sleep much better this evening.

[mnpracing]

Jeff W. - MN Inboard has a new mechanic who worked for years at Chicago Searay. They serviced Moomba's so he is very familiar with them. His name is Kevin B.