Slight grinding noise when idling forward slow
 

When I put the boat in gear (2008 malibu 247 with a 383 hammerhead, by the way) and barely idle forward, such as when docking and such, I hear a slight grinding noise. It sounds as if the prop shaft isn't lubricated well, or just rubbing against something. However, once I give it a little bit more throttle it goes away and is quiet as can be. It doesn't sound like any gear grinding, but rather the drive shaft or prop shaft or something rubbing against something else. Any ideas? Thanks everyone.

Check your damper/flex plate.

Also check your packing. My boat had the same problem, I tightened up the packing gland and it went away.

Thanks- I will check both. I just thought of another question. The front nav light isn't working, im assuming the bulb is burnt out or possibly a fuse. Do you know what kind of bulb malibu uses? It is a flip-up light.

How do you check the damper plate without pulling the engine??

Wooden dowel on the bell housing and your ear.

Sounds like a bad Fetzer valve.

When flex plates (damper) crack they make a hell of a lot of noise.. loader with increased power... It sounds to me like the bilateral simplex control shaft is out of alignment....

Do you recommend checking and aligning these myself? Or would a marina do it for a reasonable price? We are mechanically inclined but if it's not too much I would just prefer to have it professionally done.