83 2807 with a loose strut

[CptnCrunch44]

Hello,
So I have an 83 Riviera with a single crusader. The entire drive train was working smooth and perfect. I recently struck two logs on two separate occasions. After the first strike (more like a little nudge) I noticed an extremely small vibration. Small enough that I wasn't convinced that it wasn't my imagination. Next time out I found another one.( Log), (I really need to be back on the dock before sunset!!!)
Now I have a considerably noticable wobble, And I'm getting water in my aft hold....not a lot, but a leak that I can't quite pinpoint. I pulled the boat out and checked the running gear, no noticeable damage to the naked eye. No noticeable movement in the strut, HOWEVER... there are definite cracks in the fiberglass around the bolts for the struts (on the inside, bottom paint on the outside)
One of the bolts broke of when I touched it. So I'm thinking that's where my issue is and I need to replace those nuts n bolts...

KM1125 advised me to start my own thread as I am going to need A LOT of advise......
What am I getting myself into???

[g36]

Wow so sorry. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[tomschauer]

If you have it insured, call your carrier and submit a claim.

Try to stay away from logs!!

[km1125]

Agree on the call to insurance. It could run some bucks and you can get stuff taken care of "properly" instead of cutting any corners to save a few $$

You should check what kind of bolts they were. It's possible someone replaced them at some time and didn't use a compatible bolt. I would have thought they were stainless, but mine were silicon bronze bolts. In the other thread, you wrote the bolt was "rusted through"? Is that really the case or is it possible it just snapped due to being overstressed (from hitting something)?

The "right" way would be to pull the prop and shaft and have them checked. It's possible the shaft got bent and it's possible the prop is out of alignment with one of the blades even though there might not be a noticeable ding in any of them. The strut should be removed and rebedded, but before you do that you might want a good fiberglass guy to inspect those cracks to see if there's an issue that needs to be addressed.

While the shaft and strut are out, you probably will want to replace the cutlass bearing.

Are you hauled for the season or just hauled temporarily? Depending on how you use the boat, if it's a slight vibration and you don't run the boat hard, then I'd just replace the bolt(s) on the strut and use the boat for the rest of the season. You could have someone check the engine alignment to see if that could be contributing to the vibration before you go tearing everything out.

[Viper]

Ya going by eye won't always reveal if there's an issue with the prop or shaft, taking measurements is the only way to get an accurate result. Checking the engine alignment can tell you a lot if you know what to do and how to interpret the results. It's always best to start from scratch and take the running gear in to get checked so you can eliminate or confirm them as possible culprits, send the coupler in as well.

The cracks are a red flag but it really needs to be assessed to confirm whether the cracks are into the glass or just surface/gel cracks which wouldn't be a concern.

I'd be concerned with the deterioration of the bolt. What kind of water do you boat in? Do you have the right anodes? Is the bonding system intact? Is there stray current that needs to be addressed?

I wouldn't run her very much with a vibration, it's not healthy for the transmission.

[CptnCrunch44]

Thanks for all of the info. I pulled the boat right away looking for obvious damage and then returned her to the water. I'm in fresh (but very dirty) water. The bolt was definitely rusted through and I also believe that there was some kind of previous repair...the boat has always been in fresh water, the zincs seem to be ok as well as the bonding.....but....as I think about it, I'm not sure if the is/was a bonding wire on the strut bolts...hmm.... I need to replace all my of the bolts but are there going to be nuts embedded in the fiberglass on the support plate? At least I think there's a support plate. I don't plan on running the boat any more this season except to get off the dock and back on the trailer.
I plan on pulling the prop and shaft to have checked better than the naked eye. This is my first boat with an inboard and prop...

[km1125]

On my boat there were not embedded nuts anywhere. Where the struts mounted, there was some type of reinforcing embedded in the actual fiberglass hull, but I'm not sure what it was. I suspected it was just a bunch more layers of glass. IIRC, it was about 1/2" thicker where the strut attached. The strut had carriage bolts with the heads on the strut side and washers and nuts inside the hull.

Yes, I definitely check to see if there was a bonding wire on any of the nuts and I'd also look closely at all the other bolts to see what material they are compared with the one that broke and if they have any signs of corrosion.

[tomschauer]

If one or more of the strut bolts are loose, you should probably keep it out of the water. You are most likely getting water into the hull.
for 1983, I THINK your hull is cored. So you could be creating a greater problem letting water get into the hull structure.

[Viper]

Source of the post .....I'm in fresh (but very dirty) water.....

What kind of anodes do you have, and when was the last time they were changed? If they're zinc, they're not doing a thing in fresh water. There should be a bonding wire on one of the strut bolts.

[CptnCrunch44]

I have owned the boat for three years. There is an anode on the prop shaft that shows no sign of degredation. I'm not sure what it's made of but the boat has always been in fresh water. It was also out of the water for at least seven years prior to me taking ownership. How would I check for stray current at the dock? (I know how to use a multi meter...) just not sure where or how I would check