What happened to my prop? Boat will not move
 

Went out today to motor my boat to a boat yard...it didn't go very well. Perhaps due to a failed attempt to understand the channel markers. (Still attempting to figure out what a white skinny pole with red horizontal strips just off of the green channel marker is.) Got into some sand and back out but now the engine revs up like there is no propeller attached to it :eek: What could of happened?

Ya might have spun the prop right off when you had it cranked up in reverse. You wouldn't be the first one this has happened too. Me thinks a swim might be in order.

Still attempting to figure out what a white skinny pole with red horizontal strips just off of the green channel marker is

Just for grins: marks a sand bar?::D

I would have figured there would of been a cotter pin or something through the nut and shaft for the prop so this couldn't happen.

I can tell you I'm going to be studying the channel markers in an attempt to know what that marker was because I definitely hit sand but haven't seen that marker in any of my books yet.

What Chuck said. Someone needs to go swimmin'

Okay so assuming the prop is now laying somewhere at the bottom of the Neuse river. How do you go about getting a new prop on, tightened up and ensuring this doesn't happen again all while the boat is in the water and assuming you can't see in the brown water? Thanks for the help and keeping the dream alive...

If it comes to replacing an AWOL prop (not yet determined), this strikes me as a pick your battles project. Paying a professional diver for this task may be a wise choice. There may be shaft damage which experienced eyes will notice immediately.

About a year ago I replaced my prop. I'm a diver and I still hired a pro.

I paid a diver to do a prop swap once when I was in a hurry. I can do it myself too, dive gear aside it isn't any different than being on land and doing it. Step 1 - swim down there and see if the prop is still there!

Do you have access to a GoPro camera or any waterproof camera setup?
Rigged on a pole or selfie-stick, it's a painless way to get a peek under the boat. ;)

The pro I hired had all the tools laid out on the dock easily reachable from the water. He went in once, didn't climb out until the job was done. Tools included his prop puller, Crescent wrenches, pliers/dykes, new cotter pin, wood block to immobilize the prop shaft for wrenching both ways.

Without question he was much more efficient than I ever would have been. I've changed a prop in the water once in my lifetime, the pro diver maybe hundreds. Besides, the swimming beach nearest my slip inside LA Outer Harbor consistently tests for high coliform bacteria counts. Local bottom cleaners get regular prophylactic gamma globulin shots. I chose to avoid such exposure.

Do you remember what the diver's fee was? The boat is almost 4 hours from me or I would try to check it out and have an update.

The prop would about have to be AWOL in the case the engine revs, prop shaft spins and you can hear there is no drag on the engine wouldn't it? I'm open ears.

You know, I didn't even think about that...I had my GoPro in my pocket the entire time. Wonder what visibility would be in the murky water.

Local rates, high reputation diver = $175

If you don't have a clean place to dive, by all means pay the diver!

How do you go about finding a diver for prop services?

I contacted my bottom cleaning service first. They didn’t do that type of work but made an excellent referral.

This just happened to my E27. Found local diver on Craigslist for $175 for check out and simple fix if possible. Haven't scheduled a date yet.

Well, finally have an update. My propeller is still attached to the boat. https://youtu.be/JbRduSlsmDA about 45 seconds into the video you can clearly see the prop is still there. Will be hopefully getting it hauled out Friday to address this plus do some fiberglass repairs.

Thinking I may get the yard to drop the mast as well, not sure what condition the chainplates are in after all of these years.

I just solved my problem..which was 100% the same as you describe. Prop does not move boat in either direction with engine in gear.

Sequence I found was this:

1) Rear half of the prop shaft coupling connects to the prop shaft by a pinch bolt thru the coupling.
2) Pinch bolt backed out. Supposed to be wired in place, was not.
3) Putting the boat in reverse, the prop shaft pulled backwards since the pinch bolt was no longer in place to hold it together.
4) Since the prop shaft pulled backwards it disengaged from the coupling key. This resulted in the motor spinning, but the prop not spinning.

My solution:
Cut work space in rear engine box to access prop shaft coupling.
Unbolt engine from floor and other necessary fittings and drag fwd a couple inches to have room to remove coupling.
Remove the old shaft coupling, finding the cause of the slippage.

New coupling on order and all gaskets to fix what I unbolted.
New key on order.

To be done:
Reinstall new coupling, wire pinch bolt in place, using new shaft key.
put engine back in place
reattach everything disconnected to move motor
pray.

Not an uncommon thing to have the shaft pull out of the coupling. Our YC launch snagged a mooring and pulled the shaft out of the coupling - it also pulled it out of the shaft seal, out of the bearings, and out of the boat! Launch operator plugged the hole in the shaft seal and had a dingy tow the launch to the beach before it sank. Yes, we recovered the shaft & prop.
Common cause is that the shaft was not drilled for the point of the set screw. These set screws are typically 5/16 diameter, and the shaft has to be drilled at least 3/16 deep to take the working end of the screw. Just snugging the set screw against the shaft and relying on friction is unsat.