1997 challenger anchor rope caught in intake/shaft

[eric reincke]

embarrased to admit it, but i ran over the anchor rope. not that familiar with boat parts, so bear with me. I got the rope off after 2 hours, but the plastic sleeve which covers the steel shaft is missing. is it necessary to have this. I know the other shaft has it, but unsure if it will hurt to not have it on until the fall, when i dont mind being without a boat. im concerned about water possibly getting into the hull through the intake point where the shaft meets the hull. also, tried to take the screws off the underside cover, and now they wont catch when putting them back?

 

[Gunsrunner]

I have used my boat 5 or 6 times since i sucked up the ski rope and crushed the plastic cover over my drive shaft:stupid: Don't feel to bad lots of people do it!!:rofl:
So far so good no problems, the water still wont get past the carbon seal.
A new plastic cover just clips back in from behind, after removing the jet pump.

 

[eric reincke]

if my carbon seal is damages, then what? will water do damage it it gets past the seal?

 

[Gunsrunner]

Only if it sinks!!:rofl:
No most of the time the bilge pump will deal with it, the carbon seal is inside the hull on the drive shaft under the pto cover, i don't think you can do any damage to the carbon seal by sucking up a rope. Maybe if it got that tight it broke the mount point for the rubber boot.
The only thing i worry about is the fact that if i run over another one it will wrap around the drive shaft easier because there is nothing there to stop it!!

 

[eric reincke]

i feel much better, thanks

 

[seadoosnipe]

Me too!

Yeah, we've all done it. Even us "professionals"..........:rofl:

I did it last year. Don't worry about the shaft guard. I don't even know that I"d replace it.

Your screws, .......there is a brand of Loctite that is designed to squirt into the holes and make new theads. I think it's called thread maker. Check out your Advanced Auto or Autozone.

Good luck..........and keep your eyes open!.......:cheers:

 

[2002utopia205]

I've run things over too

I have a utopia and have run over a rope and a hat. there is an intake grate under the boat (I need to take mine out of the water to access). Just rach up and pull out the rap. Check the impeller for damange. If it has a lot of dings it will be unbalanced and cause the wear ring to fail.