roger23
08-13-2006, 08:09 AM
We were coming back from fishing when we lost forward motion engine running ok lifted the engine deck cover the shaft had separated from flange and shaft had slipped back called for a tow when the tow hooked up the shaft wanted to screw its self out of the packing luckly we were watching and had a pipe wrench put the pipe wrench on the shaft to keep it from rotating stood on the pipe wrench for 12 miles but made it back ok the prop did not hit the rudder so was not damaged . the flange was cast Iron the replacement is steel replaced the flange put the boat back in the water and she is ready to go . the customers tipped us a extra $150 for getting them back safety The captain is giving them a free bass trip this fall for there troubles . Fishing was great boat ride sucked . this might be something you might want to look at if you have a older Merc inboard this was a 454 cu in