We did not inspect this piece before we took delivery. We also did not do a water test. I have some faith in the dealership, but accidents do happen. Hard to say at this point how/when it was broken. I was nervous about taking delivery without a test drive, but waived it off as being overly cautious and again I have a good feeling about the dealership from speaking with others that have had motorcycles purchased/serviced there.
I had some questions about a "rattle" that I had heard from the very first startup. Sounded like a large metal on metal vibration, much like a pillow block bearing going bad in an industrial machine. Perhaps this is what I heard, and it was broken on delivery. Might also have been road debris that caused it. Hard to say really.
I'll take some closer pictures when I get home and see if I can't figure out the cause. I'm going to crawl under the boat with the DSLR as well as I don't want to tow it to the dealership for this, and they didn't request to see it, but want to take the pictures to show them. I'll see if I find any other damage under there while I'm doing that.
That is unusual - thank you for sharing. Wow.
If that would make you feel any better, just imagine what it would be like - if you had a lower unit...
(Been there... disaster zone.)
Yea, I hit a submerged rock in the last boat (1998 Rinker 182BR - 3.0L/A1 outdrive) that actually stalled the motor. Put a little ding in the stainless prop, sheared the hub holding the prop onto the lower unit, dinged the skeg, and stalled the motor. That was a SIGNIFICANT impact that stopped the boat in it's tracks and scared the crap out of the three of us aboard. I would have expected a similar "thud" from this type of damage, but we can't remember any such impact. I also would have expected same damage to the hull with that kind of impact to break this piece. Perhaps we did hit something and just didn't realize it because this boat sounds so much different than our previous, but I really think we would have noticed it.
I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on what comes of the dealer visit tomorrow. I expect a lengthy show/tell session, as well as some discussion on what happened. The end result is an order for a new part. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll split the cost with me? I'm not holding my breath though, as this is so easily attributed to abuse. We'll see though.
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