$2,000.00 fishing trip….

Been waiting on the river to get right and last Sunday it appeared perfect.
Launched about 2 miles down from the ramp I normally do because it was cleared of debris.
Took a couple buddies that day.
Stopped at first place we normally catch sauger and zero bites.
Then started up river to a somewhat dangerous area full of rocks and rock ledges.
I have been boating in that area for over 20 years and know where the narrow channel is that you must stay in.
Well, then it happened. I hit a rock hard.
Spun a hub and twisted my stainless prop bad. I was able to get to the bank where I changed the prop.
Noticed I had broken 2/3 of the skeg off also.
Fished the rest of the day and no bites between us three.
Once I got home I checked my prop shaft and it was bent too.
I ordered a new factory lower unit and it should be here this week.
I think I can straighten the prop shaft but if not I’ll get another one and put it in along with new prop seals.
Get skeg welded back on. Prop shop has prop repairing it now. Spare lower unit when all is said and done.
Expensive day on the river but it could have been worse.
Just wish we had a limit of sauger to go along with a bad luck day. [emoji106][emoji106]


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I am sorry to hear of your misfortune as well. Never hurts to have a spare

Glad you are safe, that’s all that matters.

Wow! What a tough day.

David

That Sucks!

That section of river has claimed many lower units. Expensive trip, but you are here to tell about it on the bright side.

Thats definitely a horrible day...however it can always be worse than what it was. Smithland dam on the ohio will do the same thing to ya

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Originally Posted by Locator79

That section of river has claimed many lower units. Expensive trip, but you are here to tell about it on the bright side.

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Mike,
I have only been up there hundreds of times. Lol
You know where I’m talking about.
Seen lots of screw ups by people that don’t boat there.
After changing prop in the duck pond I went back to the top without incident. I blamed it on the extra weight in the boat. [emoji23] lol.


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Originally Posted by derek dutton

Thats definitely a horrible day...however it can always be worse than what it was. Smithland dam on the ohio will do the same thing to ya

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I’ve fished Smithland dam also.
McAlphine is my home area. Fished it for 20+ years.
Mostly hate boat being down for a week or so.
I can only blame myself.
Just the first and hopefully the last time it happens.



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Man hate to hear of that. But like said before could have been worse. Glad nobody was hurt or boat destroyed. Be safe out there.

Stinks for sure. Couple years ago I hit something hard. Fortunately I carry a spare prop.
Attachment 418520

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

Stinks for sure. Couple years ago I hit something hard. Fortunately I carry a spare prop.
Attachment 418520

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Probably should put a dial indicator on the prop shaft and check if it’s bent. May not be since you run aluminum.


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I stripped out the forward gear set and bent the shift linkage. Two weeks later I was back up and running. Ran great the rest of the season. I bought a different boat during the off season. The misses wanted a windshield and I needed more hp to pull the grandkids around the lake.

Chuck post up what you have, lots of spare parts down here. Be specific in description, I may be able to find you shafts.

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Originally Posted by rojoguio

Chuck post up what you have, lots of spare parts down here. Be specific in description, I may be able to find you shafts.

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Cool
Thank you
New factory lower unit coming hopefully this week. I have to drive to Cincinnati and pick it up.
Get a lower unit seal kit while there.
Once I get new unit bolted on and boat ready to go I’ll tackle repairs on old one.
Pretty sure I’ll be able to fix it. Hope all the gears are ok once I get it opened up.
Forward gear is unavailable I was told.



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thank goodness you were not hurt , rocks are bad stuff on lower units , silly me was thinking you went to cabo after salty fishes when i read the title , but then i thunk , would prolly cost a bit more than 2 grand

Quick little story to make you feel better. Lived at Lake Waccamaw NC for 20 years. Dam was on the other side of the lake tall grass beds out about 500 yards always caught bass there. Knew the cloud was coming fishing the edges first clap of thunder those fish turned on. Every cash was a 3 to a 5. Finger was bleeding I took off so many bass. You know how we hate to leave anything when its good. Waiting till the last minuet it was on top of me put the rods down headed across that 7 x 9 mile like. Lightening everywhere. Rough water where the wind had kicked up had a boat landing at the house flew in power loaded the boat ran inside let the storm go by. When I came back out I have broke the whole top of the boat from the drivers seat all the way around the rear to the passenger seat had come loose fell inside the bottom part of the shell. Lucky I had warranty on the boat . it was destroyed. We all have bad days .

Whew! That day was a tough one. Glad no one got hurt.
Bob

I used to fish below that area from the bank for sauger. Seen some terrible misfortunes with some people trying to navigate the rock area. Sorry to hear about the misfortune and thankfully no one was hurt, not that the wallet is not important. I would be nervous riding with someone in that area. Good luck on the repair.

Rough day but as you said it could have been much worse. Glad you are okay.

Will insurance cover the cost?

Ouch! That kind of damage just hurts your feelings and your wallet.
Maybe your good attitude will be rewarded with a limit on every trip the rest of this year.

I feel for ya,,,been there done that myself to my Nat, Team Skeeter boat when I fished bass tourneys…hit a submerged rockwall running just on plane about 60 mph ,,,trashed the motor and all but ripped the transom off…about 15 grand back in the early 80’s. Skeeter rebuilt the boat for me as it was one of their National Team Boats and had to install a new Merc 150 as back then the limit on motor size for Nat. bass tourney's was 150 hp motors. Insurance paid for it.

Drove to Cincinnati today and picked up my new lower unit.
4 hour round trip but I should be up and going tomorrow.
Bought prop seals and a couple misc items including a new prop.
Stainless prop is getting repaired but I have several here at the house.
Done with sauger fishing for awhile because the river is running wild and very high.
At least I’ll be ready for fishing when the water gets right.
I’ll start tearing down the old lower unit and see if I can repair it soon.


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Originally Posted by Capt Cormorant

Will insurance cover the cost?

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They will but I just went ahead and bought a new lower unit.
Factory Honda.
I’ll rebuild the old one for a spare.



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Sounds like you’ve got a project to work on. Glad you were able to get lower unit and parts for repairs. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by cevans

I feel for ya,,,been there done that myself to my Nat, Team Skeeter boat when I fished bass tourneys…hit a submerged rockwall running just on plane about 60 mph ,,,trashed the motor and all but ripped the transom off…about 15 grand back in the early 80’s. Skeeter rebuilt the boat for me as it was one of their National Team Boats and had to install a new Merc 150 as back then the limit on motor size for Nat. bass tourney's was 150 hp motors. Insurance paid for it.

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Buddy had about the same experience a few years ago.
Hit something running about 70.
Knocked entire motor off transom.
Big Mercury in the bottom of river.
It was in an area we call the shoot and 30 yards off the bank in 15 ft of water. We dove for it the same day and never found it.
He and his son got banged up with some broken ribs.
Bad day for sure.


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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

Sounds like you’ve got a project to work on. Glad you were able to get lower unit and parts for repairs. Good luck.

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Yep,
Very understandable wife.
She said “you’ve got an experience hobby” [emoji3][emoji3]
Never says much about what I spend on fishing.
Very blessed.
All I can tell you guys that know me is you better come to the BIG yard sale when I’m gone!!! Lol
Chuck


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Originally Posted by Chuck Adams

Yep,
Very understandable wife.
She said “you’ve got an experience hobby” [emoji3][emoji3]
Never says much about what I spend on fishing.
Very blessed.
All I can tell you guys that know me is you better come to the BIG yard sale when I’m gone!!! Lol
Chuck


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Should read expensive hobby!! Lol
Chuck


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we used to see boats every trip tied to trees at lake fork when they opened it back some 45 years or so ago , all of them were minus the motor and the transom .
the boat lanes were very much unmarked back then and it was just a flooded giant thicket of big oak trees , sure was a dangerous place to take your boat back then .
having been speared hard at just on plane one time makes one really appreciate the impact of hitting something hard going fast .
it is no wonder our new boat law is so heavily enforced about wearing your kill switch .

Glad I never got bitten bad by the boat bug. No place to store it for one. It sure can get expensive.
Bob

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

we used to see boats every trip tied to trees at lake fork when they opened it back some 45 years or so ago , all of them were minus the motor and the transom .
the boat lanes were very much unmarked back then and it was just a flooded giant thicket of big oak trees , sure was a dangerous place to take your boat back then .
having been speared hard at just on plane one time makes one really appreciate the impact of hitting something hard going fast .
it is no wonder our new boat law is so heavily enforced about wearing your kill switch .

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That boat stops a lot faster than you do. I took one over a log floating just under the surface one night. That was a slow nasty trip back with the prop all wrecked

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

That boat stops a lot faster than you do. I took one over a log floating just under the surface one night. That was a slow nasty trip back with the prop all wrecked

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Turned hard right before the boat lane one night at fork , me up front running the q beam as us young men might have done back in the day .
Cut off an oak tree at the water line about telephone pole size and the skeeter was fine .
But ketchn and the driver had to fight off a million mad wasps and fire ants and spiders in the dark, After we changed our soiled underwear !:Rofl

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gone Fishin'

Ouch! That kind of damage just hurts your feelings and your wallet.
Maybe your good attitude will be rewarded with a limit on every trip the rest of this year.

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Yeah,
I don’t get too stressed about much at my age.
I can fix about anything(not bragging)
At least I always try.
Only trouble now is I don’t like to work on stuff anymore.
Every time son in law comes to the house I send him him with a truck load from my garage. Welders, torches and tanks, bearing press, last time he was here. Lol.
I did rebuild a Harley motor for a friend this winter and of course it was a freebie with him just buying the parts. That was only a couple day job while it was too cold to fish.
Chuck


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

Turned hard right before the boat lane one night at fork , me up front running the q beam as us young men might have done back in the day .
Cut off an oak tree at the water line about telephone pole size and the skeeter was fine .
But ketchn and the driver had to fight off a million mad wasps and fire ants and spiders in the dark, After we changed our soiled underwear !:Rofl

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Sounds invigorating

Attachment 418822
Got new lower unit mounted today.
Put my new aluminum Honda prop on.
Stainless prop will be the spare while in the river. Lol [emoji38]
Only took about 20 minutes.
Now to attempt to straighten the prop shaft and install of seals on the banged up one.


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Good job Chuck!

Bright shiny and new. Looks awesome

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Originally Posted by Chuck Adams

Should read expensive hobby!! Lol
Chuck


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My experience with hobbies has always been expensive. :)


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Bad deal... Sauger bite has been off up here below Meldahl since 2022 started. I've been twice, fishing 7hrs. total without a bite. But that doesn't stop me from going. LOL