First off I'm not trying to start any drama just looking for answers or ideas I guess. I have few yr old 35hp backwater short frame that I bought new I'm on my 2nd shaft now and the current one is bent in the same place as the last one so I'm looking at being on my 3rd if I replace it. Curious if anyone has had issues with the shaft on there backwater motors and if anyone has a fix or ideas to fix it. The motor has been used but not abused it banged a few rocks and logs but noting crazy. The cav plate is also cracked again. Thanks for any input or ideas. Brent

Call backwater tomorrow. They know those frames better than anyone, and they're good people.

So the driveshaft is bending at the prop end, correct? You must be knocking the fire out of it whenever you hit something. The cavitation plate and skeg generally do a very good job of keeping obstructions from hitting the prop from the top and bottom. Backwater now manufacturers a sort of "rock guard" deal that protects the sides of the prop as well. I had a chance to check it out while in Freeport in September. I don't have any pictures or anything though. From talking to Larry, the guard may knock a hair off of your top speed, but the prop protection is great.

I'd call the shop tomorrow and ask them about the rock guard. Best of luck and keep us updated!

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I offer something to look at too!

Regardless of company or warranty...I generally wouldn't expect any companies warranty to cover damage that resulted from abuse (even if accidental). I would count my blessings and appreciate them replacing it the first time. The only real chance of bending a shaft is going to be from hitting something. Hard.

What are the odds you backed into something with the prop end while the boat was trailered? Or got it into the ground while backing down the launch? Just a few things to think about since you seem unsure of how it bent.

Also want to make sure there is only about an 1/8" between the bearing housing cap and the back of the prop.

What'd backwater say?

I've bent a couple as well, it happens. It sucks especially when it's shortly after replacing one, but it's the price you pay for being abled to run around logs and rocks. If you run with a slight bend in your shaft for any amount of time the cavitation plate will literally flex back and forth until it fatigues and cracks. You can crack the area next to a weld this way too.
It's not Backwater's fault or responsibility to replace bent shafts and parts fatigued from operating with a bent shaft. I'm as guilty as anyone of loving to go new places and revisiting areas that I've had problems in before. The second shaft I bent, I literally had no idea how or why and I suspected my dad had backed into my rig parked at his cabin. I'm sure I had a hard hit that didn't feel like much but was in just the right spot at the right speed.

It happens fast and may not feel like a hard hit while running, but think about the energy it takes to stop your boat even at 10-12 mph. That same force is bending your shaft when you hit a log or rock just right. If you hit the side of your prop on an immoveable object while your boat is in forward motion that's an extreme amount of force and the shaft is going to give. Keeping your jam nuts as close to the housing as possible helps, but it's still just a 3/4" piece of steel.

What HP was your friends Beavertail? These 35hp have so much more torque then the 23, 25's. I used to have a 23hp and hit plenty of rocks and logs, and never bend a shaft. I upgraded to the 35hp and have bent 2 shafts my self. That much torgue hitting a hard object, something has to give.

It seems that you are missing that what everyone is saying is that this is not normal.

You are having an abnormal problem and that your issue is not a normal issue with Backwater motors.

Therefore, something else must be going on.

I think that is why everyone's first thought is you hit something, backed into something, etc....

What this is will be hard to diagnose over the internet.

Have you actually talked it through with the Backwater guys and tried to figure it out? They are pretty good guys and I would think they would be willing to try and help you figure it out.