I Damaged My Boat - Need Advice/Help

It sure looks like it could be a '73- its definitely not a '78. Post a picture of the HIN.

I cant see any damage to the shaft log from that picture... thats how the bottom of the boat is supposed to look. What does it look like on the bilge side?

Chris,
I've never seen a spacer under the strut before. Makes you wonder if it came from the factory that way due to a drilling/position error??

My guess is that the rudder had been straightened once before & was work hardened right at the break point. Just took 1 more hit for it to let go. It looks like the shaft came out of the coupler- shouldn't do that but it probably saved your tranny. Possible the shaft came loose, had no safety collar, then took the rudder with it when it went out the stern.

PS, stick with the log hit when talking to the insurance adjuster!

Alright. I'll save up the money for the replacements and see how they do. Thanks for the help, guys.

Air206 - I haven't loosened the nut, just removed the seat and took pictures.

SNobsessed - Sorry I didn't mention this earlier, but the boat isn't insured. I had it listed at non-operable since I was chasing electrical issues and dealing with a leaky car, so sadly I can't claim my insurance on this one.

Jeff, I'm with Chris on this one. From the pictures I see it looks like you suffered no gel damage to the boat. The drive shaft and prop have departed the boat in tact only taking the rudder with it. Get your scuba gear and retrieve the missing parts and you'll have some more clues as to what happened.
Looks like the second tracking fin has been dressed up to next to the point of it isn't doing you any good if that is what it is. Is that factory or someone else's idea of a torque fix? Maybe someone who knows more about this particular year can chime in and tell you what it is. TRBenj?

Guy's would the spacer under the strut be a previous owners attempt at getting the tranny couplers to align? Could that have caused a sress point in the driveshaft causing it to depart the boat?

The small fin is the same speedo pickup on my 78. I would agree, earlier than 78 model. See if the hin # is on the upper rt hand corner of transom on the outside.

If Im not mistaken the early Martiniques only had a single tracking fin- the 2nd gen SN had 2. While everything is apart, I would check the remaining underwater gear (fin, strut) for straightness. If bent, get them fixed while everything is apart.

The theory that the shaft worked its way out and caused all this sure sounds plausable. I would pay very special attention to the alignment when you put it back together. If you can, eliminate that spacer under the strut. As I mentioned before, I would go with a used rudder (or even a prop) but a new shaft and coupler is a wise idea.

Like has been mentioned, that small fin is the speedo pickup. Ive got the same one on my '71 Skier. If there is no HIN on the upper right side of the transom, then poke around the bilge- there may be a plate with a serial number affixed to a stringer. Either that, or there is a serial number on the capacity plate by the throttle. Thats the only thing I have on my Skier, and Correct Craft was able to pull the records and confirm the year.