400 Verado propshaft breakage

**conmax** · 09-22-2017, 05:20 PM

Recently, 3 west coast cats have broken propshafts. One is a 28' Nordic which I was told has broken 3 shafts. The other 2 are Eliminator speedsters, 1 28' and the other a 27' which broke last week. The 2 Eliminators broke while getting on plane. Of course the props are gone as well. The shafts are broken where the splines begin. From the one 27 that I saw this week, it appears that the shafts are 2 piece with the splined end welded to the main shaft. The 28' speedster has been broken for 3 months with Merc debating what to do. You would think they would replace the lower and the missing CNC 34" cleaver and get the customer going again.

i would like to know if other twin engine fairly fast boats have experienced breakage. With Merc using these motors in offshore racing, it would make sense that those larger boats running offshore would expose any weak propshafts.

Do any readers know of similar failures.?

**stoker2001** · 09-22-2017, 05:40 PM

yup,hears first hand from WC about Paul Wallners AKA "bully" TWO lost CNC blades at bottom

blows my mind that mother merc would consider using two-piece welded shaft in that application??word has it they kicked down for both of Pauls wheels..

**AZMIDLYF** · 09-22-2017, 05:40 PM

Xcats using the same prop shafts?

**noli** · 09-22-2017, 06:04 PM

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AZ, I did a quick scan in Google and FB, nothing came back with reference to 400ROS(XCat) breaking propshafts.

The Predator Widebody just started water testing this week. Will let you know if we have any issues with broken propshafts. We're working with MAX5 Mercury props to get a baseline, not CNC yet.

These MAX5 props are $1,700 each. It might be wise for Predator to stay away from CNC props for now. At $5,200 each CNC prop, that would be painful to lose.

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**stoker2001** · 09-22-2017, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by noli

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AZ, I did a quick scan in Google and FB, nothing came back with reference to 400ROS breaking propshafts.

The Predator Widebody just started water testing this week. Will let you know if we have any issues with broken propshafts. We're working with MAX5 Mercury props to get a baseline, not CNC yet.

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nobody boats like Paul in his 28' Nordic SS!!I doubt racers even punish his equiptment like him..but rest assured he broke two without hitting anything this last summer

**AZMIDLYF** · 09-22-2017, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by stoker2001

nobody boats like Paul in his 28' Nordic SS!!I doubt racers even punish his equiptment like him..but rest assured he broke two without hitting anything this last summer

Agree^^ seen videos of his runs and he definitely enjoys his boat.

**noli** · 09-23-2017, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by stoker2001

nobody boats like Paul in his 28' Nordic SS!!I doubt racers even punish his equiptment like him..but rest assured he broke two without hitting anything this last summer

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I believe you, I was referring to the 400ROS and not the 400R

400ROS 15" mids (racing motors)

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400R 20" mids (consumer)

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**JPEROG** · 09-23-2017, 10:07 AM

The race guys are not loading those props as hard as the consumer "heavy boats". Wait until we get guys running them in rough water with loaded down boats like the Performance Boat Center Doug Wright 36 is being exposed to. My guess is that the first weak link will be made really obvious. Its all part of going fast and pushing into new territory for consumer performance sales. We are very lucky that Mercury is willing to do it, without them we would never see these opportunities. The down side is the cost of the propellers laying on the bottom along with the warranty claim cost that needs to be recouped by the company at some point. The 300XS continues to be a great motor for the money and simplicity

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Joe

**hoser** · 09-23-2017, 10:10 AM

That motor would look so badass on my 21 superboat

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**noli** · 09-23-2017, 11:31 AM

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If I understand the issues correctly, prop shafts breaking at the fusion weld is fixable I think with the help of after-market metallurgists.

The 400R has a 1 year warranty. I think the door is open for specialized metal fabricators who can make (steel) billet, 1 piece prop shafts for the post-warranty period.

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**JPEROG** · 09-23-2017, 08:55 PM

My guess is that it will be solved in house. They can't afford to keep paying big warranty claims for an extended period. First it was the props throwing blades, then we build stronger propellers, now its the prop shaft, whats the next weak link?

Joe

**WILDMAN** · 09-23-2017, 11:11 PM

The 400R 21 Liberator I just finished, broke the shaft off while getting on plane. It had 7 hours on it. Lost an $1800 Max 5 prop. Mercury gave me a new gearcase and prop. I have also broke off two shafts on 300xs motors before. Both times were getting on plane.

**JPEROG** · 09-23-2017, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by WILDMAN

The 400R 21 Liberator I just finished, broke the shaft off while getting on plane. It had 7 hours on it. Lost an $1800 Max 5 prop. Mercury gave me a new gearcase and prop. I have also broke off two shafts on 300xs motors before. Both times were getting on plane.

Yes but you have had a hundred XS motors and only 1 400.

Joe

**WILDMAN** · 09-23-2017, 11:34 PM

YUP! I guess that would be 100% breakage then on the 400's!

**noli** · 09-24-2017, 04:57 AM

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Propshaft breaking on a 21 in a lake can't be due to load

That rig seems to be a lighter rig than what most users of the 400R would have that motor on

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