Here's a story for ya:
My oil warning buzzer started going off during the tourney Saturday, had a full oil bottle. So I stayed in the same cove all tourney, which netted me 0 keepers.
Took it to the shop and had them check out the excessive play in the prop as well as the oil warning buzzer. Oil pump went out, but the killer was the gear case. This is what I understand from over the phone, I have yet to see the parts.
Apparently, I hit something awhile back and bent the pins that hold the bearing in place for the prop shaft (I think that's what they said the problem is) and it slowly tore up the gears. It never showed any indication of this, always ran smooth with consistent top end speeds. Well they say I need a new gear case (90hp Merc) cost.... $4000!!! Ay carumba! Insurance is covering the underwater collison I had at some point in time to cause this. A $500 deductible. Of course this happens the same week my truck gets rear ended by a guy reading his map. Tow vehicle in the shop as well as the boat. I'm having a bad week...
Pics of the gears to follow if I can get some...