34' O'Day Hauling

[sailormanron]

Hi, My name is Ron and I am new to the O'Day forum. I recently purchased a 1982 34ft O'Day. Looking @ the owner's manual, under boat storage, it says"when hauling any boat with a propeller shaft, be sure to disconnect the coupling before lifting boat". I've never heard of this before, so wondering if you would agree that this would be wise and standard procedure?

Thank you, in advance, for your comments and opinions.

 

[25yearslater]

Not sure of the rationale, but a competent yard crew won't lift if there is any doubt that the slings are clear of the shaft. A lift on the shaft could crack the stuffing box and/or the transmission flange. 4 years of hauling and launching and I never lifted on a shaft.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello sailormanron,
The concern for the shaft is that the pressures on the hull when the boat is on stands is different from the pressures on the hull when it is in the water. Careful blocking at points on the hull where there is adequate support from bulkheads should minimize any distortion. With our 34 we never noticed pressure that caused a concern. (Mabe just lucky, maybe fantastic marina crew, maybe didn't look close enough).

When our 272 was in the "well" to be hauled out the travel lift operator asked me to turn the shaft by hand once the sling had lifted some of the boat's weight. It turned easily indicating that the strap was not on the shaft. The boat was placed on stands and we spent a week or so working on it. As I crawled around under the boat I noticed that a dent had developed in the port side of the hull and that the stand on the opposite side of the hull did not create a dent.

Remembering the "turn the shaft" instructions I went below to do just that. I could not turn the shaft. The hull had become distorted enough so that the shaft was binding between the coupling, the shaft seal, and the strut.

When I asked about the dent they quickly added jack stands at the transom to lift the aft of the boat and they moved the offending stand to align with the one that was not pushing the hull in. I suspect the denting stand had missed being under a bulkhead. At that point the shaft was again free to be turned by hand.

I later read in the manual that these hulls should not be set too heavily on the wing keel. I'm sure the hull thickness has some part to play in this situation. You can bet that I will be much more careful with this boat's jack stand placement and checking the shaft movement than I was with other boats. A fair example of "old dog, new trick"!

I also know people who regularly disconnect the shaft coupling when the boat is hauled and reconnect it with careful measurements when the boat is launched again. If the manual mentions disconnecting I think I would strongly consider doing that.

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

I have owned my 35 since 2006, have the boat hauled almost every year, and I never disconnect the shaft. The yard guys do a good job of lifting, transporting, and blocking the boat and I have never had a problem. The shaft turns just fine when on land.

Barry

 

[damauney]

Same as Barry since 2000 except hauling every other year on O35. However I give the diagram of lift points in the manual to lift operator before hauling and yard uses 3 stands per side to minimize hull deflection. Shaft stays coupled and always turns easily.

Goodwinds
DaveM

 

[Panta Rei]

Hi, My name is Ron and I am new to the O'Day forum. I recently purchased a 1982 34ft O'Day. Looking @ the owner's manual, under boat storage, it says"when hauling any boat with a propeller shaft, be sure to disconnect the coupling before lifting boat". I've never heard of this before, so wondering if you would agree that this would be wise and standard procedure?

Thank you, in advance, for your comments and opinions.

Yes, My ODay 39 has the same line in the owners manual and the shaft has never been removed for hauling. I think this is CYA. You came to the right place. We will soon hear from anyone that actually does this each year or someone who has had problems because they did not remove the coupling.

 

[SailingCal21]

Welcome to the family Ron. I read the same passage in my O'Day 34 manual and likewise have never had an issue with shaft alignment.

Along with the 3 stands on each side, the yard that I use to haul-out always puts a bow stand and more importantly a flat stand under the motor just forward of where the prop shaft exits the hull. The motor weighs in at about 500 lbs so there is a good bit of pressure involved that could distort the hull in that area. Btw, I suggest that you have the v-berth door open when hauling, it can be a challenge to open when on the hard.

I've attached an image of the layout. I hate to show the lady sans bottom paint and her rudder, she'd be embarrassed if she knew, but the contrast of the barrier coat makes the stands show up better than the other images I had.

 

[damauney]

Ditto on SailingCal's stand placement and additional bow stand.

Goodwinds
DaveM