broken prop shaft PLEASE HELP

I use this site almost daily, even just to browse around and keep myself up to date incase i run into any problems and i just want to say that you all are AWESOME, you have been very helpful to me and my nautique!

I bought a 1988 ski nautique 2001 two summer ago and it was the best thing i have ever done. I love it and will never ever own anything else besides a CC. its been amazing and reliable to me, however i unfortunatly let some folks take it out for the day today on lake tahoe and they must have hit a rock or something because they called me saying that the boat was taking on water in the hull. they were able to get it to a close by marina who pulled the boat out of the water before it got bad. when they pulled the boat out the discovery was made that the prop shaft had been disconnected and all 4 bolts were missing, the pop is in not so bad condition as i have been told over the phone (havent gone to pick up the boat yet) but the biggest problem i was told is that the prop shaft was torn off and damaged. I would really love some suggestions or imput as to where to go next. I have a very reliable inboard mechanic who will help me do the work but what im basically asking is how difficult it so to replace the prop shaft and how spendy it is. this boat is my baby and i realllly dont want to lose it. never ever will i make the mistake again of letting someone take it out. any information and input is highly appreciated.

i´m lost with the 4 bolts? coupler to trans flange?
have you talked to your friends and asked them what happened?
to me looks like the shaft coupler went loose..why? don´t know, probably misalligment...

No insurance on it ....they hit a rock which damaged the prop and tore off the piece that sits right behind the prop and has 4 bolts that go into the hull under the back seat. The shaft to me looks completly unharmmed and still looks straight as can be. I believe that the piece that is hanging (the one right behind the prop) was already loose before they hit the rock. The only other visable damage is the keel fins are bent and one has a crack in it. I will post pictures later today but any info until than is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

Nautiquelover1988

yep strut or rudder seems to have taken a good hit, but I would venture the strut, as it most likely will pull the bolts. If it was the rudder it would break the shaft and not pull the rudder port...but heck everything is posible!
Take some pictures and we can confirm...
The prop drive shaft will need to be at least checked for straightness...

At least we know its rudder or strut..

well then you think the title would, boat only goes straight PLEASE HELP

nautiquelover1988 wrote: No insurance on it ....they hit a rock which damaged the prop and tore off the piece that sits right behind the prop and has 4 bolts that go into the hull under the back seat. The shaft to me looks completly unharmmed and still looks straight as can be. I believe that the piece that is hanging (the one right behind the prop) was already loose before they hit the rock. The only other visable damage is the keel fins are bent and one has a crack in it. I will post pictures later today but any info until than is greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Nautiquelover1988

I'd suggest the first thing you do is get insurance...it's cheap and well worth it. You might not always file a claim, but it could get you out of a financial nightmare if something terrible were to ever happen in the future.

nautiquelover1988 wrote: I will post pictures later today but any info until than is greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Nautiquelover1988

How about the pictures?

The strut was ripped off when they hit a rock with the prop. I believe it was already loose so it didnt take much for it to tear off. Does anyone on here have a used or spare prop for this boat for sale at a decent price, it would be greatly appreciated. The keel fins were also bent but i was told these can be repaired. The only other problem i need to fix is thay where the cupling and shaft meet the small brass or metal piece that screws onto thr shaft is loose, and the silver metal ring like pieced that goes before that is free spinning, how should i tighten it so there is only a few drips per second from it. Thanks for all the response.   

* brass piece that screws onto the cupling is unscrewed and the silver ringer that sits before that is free spinning. How far down shld i screw the brass piece onto the cupling and what shld the silver metal piece with the wholes in it be fastened to?

That sounds about right, thank you very much for the input. Any other advice is greatly appreciated

I have to see this. Pictures please!