Prop Shaft Breakage - 225 Promax

[30Motion]

new to outboards - lot's to learn....

In the fall of 2005 I purchased a used 2001 30 Motion cat with twin 225 Promax motors. 70 hours on boat/motors. Salt water use, but in good condition.

Yesterday, the first nice day for boating down here for quite a while, we were running in the bay, not hard, and I lost the port side shaft/prop. When we pulled the boat out of the water, the cavitation plate was damaged and the prop shaft looked as if it just twisted apart.

My mechanic tells me that this is normal for saltwater use and Merc Promax motors.... is this correct? Are there any aftermarket prop shafts that don't have the same problems?

Bad day for toys - first the convertible top on the Porsche decides to stop working then I break a prop shaft.... oh well, at least I'll get lots done around the house this weekend...

[lightspeed]

Salt Water Has Nothin To Do With Breaking The Prop Shaft .. I Bet It Was The Left One That Broke .. Its Commen On Cats One Prop Is In One Is Out Of The Water They Twist Then Break .. Was Probably Starting To Go When You Got The Boat ..Also Has A Lot To Do When You Plane Off If You Dont Have Fat Shafts You Should Get Them ..I Might Have A Pair Of Sportmasters With Fat Shafts 4 Sale

[30Motion]

lightspeed - thanks. Let me know about the sportmaster lowers.

[props4u2]

You can install the fat shafts in your SM units with no other modifacatations, this will eliminate the problem.


Lee

[30Motion]

Thanks Props - my mechanic just confirmed that. The only downside is now I have to buy a new set of props - small price to pay, though for better reliability.

anyone use anything besides Merc Chopper?

[The Big Al]

Here get ya fat shaft!!!!!!

This one is on e-bay, new with HP hub kit!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4613703769&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Thisa is the new HD shaft.

[lightspeed]

If You Still Want The Fat Shaft Sportmasters 4000.00 For The Pair R/L Mint Cond 20 inch 1.87

[Ospreyproduction]

anyone use anything besides Merc Chopper?

I can't imagine running anything but cleavers on that Motion.

Left or right has nothing to do with you snapping one. Small shafts will start to crack over tome and eventually let go. You could have just been planing off and it could have let go. Odds are, you had very little to do with it. I am surprised to see 225's on a 30 Motion.

[30Motion]

Lightspeed - let me talk with my mechanic and see what his thoughts are - thanks for the offer - will be back to you soon.

Osprey - I agree re: the 225's - this is my first cat (not my first performance boat though) and I was having difficulty getting insurance on a 30 w/ 300X's - the 225's however, were no problem. Boat runs pretty well - mid eighties (gps) with the 30's and 88 - 89 with 32's. Unfortunately, the 32's are a bit big for everyday use. Looking to do some engine mods to see if I can't get this boat into the low 90's consistently without sacrificing too much on the reliability side....

[Ospreyproduction]

Thats still pretty respectable.

[Thunderduck]

Call Craig Colabella (Colabella Performance 407-498-0094) before you spend a bunch of $$$. He's in St. Cloud (formerly Lake X).