Propeller fell off - need size and vendor recommendations

[StretchCT]

Hi all - new to the forum and new to Beneteaus as I purchased one this past June.

For whatever reason, the prop fell off my 2001 B361 last weekend. We were able to sail onto a mooring in New Haven Harbor, which with little wind required an assist from our neighbor in his dinghy. Diver confirmed today that the prop, nuts and key are all gone. I've spent 3hrs this morning looking for what prop I need to replace it. It's a 1 inch shaft propelled by a Westerbeke 30B engine 2.47:1 ratio. Lost prop was a fixed 3 blade and I'm looking to keep the same.

Anyone know the diameter and pitch that are required/recommended. Didn't see anything in the manual, but I could have just missed it.

Once I figure that out, what's the fastest place to order a replacement? I'm seeing Michigan has a wait time of up to 16 weeks. I'd like to be able to get off the mooring and to winter storage using the engine and only have 4-6 weeks to get the new prop on. Seems that Defender/West Marine don't have any sailboat props.

Any thoughts on size or where to purchase? I've been recommended to the Beneteau spare parts site, but I can't figure out how to get in there without having to go to a dealer.

 

[Tally Ho]

I know you want to stick with a fixed prop, but if you contact Fred at PYI / Max Prop, he can quote you a 3-blade feathering Max Prop for your boat / engine / transmission and can give you the shipping time. When I ordered mine, it was in my hand within a week.

In addition, it is a sweet prop. Great reverse thrust, adjustable pitch, and adds 1/2 knot of speed in lighter winds.

I will PM you Fred’s cell phone number if I can find it…otherwise just call PYI:

• Toll Free: 800-523-7558

PYI Inc. | Max-Prop Automatic Feathering Propellers

Max-Prop is the leader in automatic feathering propellers. From 2, 3, 4 or even 5 blade designs we have a Max-Prop to suit your application.

www.pyiinc.com

Greg

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

In addition to what @Tally Ho has advised, you might want to check your shaft taper to see what damage may have been done. If the previous prop rattled itself off, the taper may have been damaged in the process.

See this article :

Lap-Fitting a Propeller to a Shaft - Marine How To

Slide The Prop On The Taper Step 1 - The first step is to slide the prop, or prop hub, onto the shaft without the key. Be sure the shaft & prop hub are clean.

marinehowto.com

 

[BigEasy]

looking for what prop I need to replace it. It's a 1 inch shaft propelled by a Westerbeke 30B engine 2.47:1 ratio. Lost prop was a fixed 3 blade and I'm looking to keep the same.
Anyone know the diameter and pitch that are required/recommended. Didn't see anything in the manual, but I could have just missed it.

Sorry about losing the prop.
First thing; Beneteau used 25mm or 30mm shafts, not 1 inch. So, unless the PO replaced the original shaft, it is not 1 inch.
I can absolutely confirm that on my Beneteau 343, it has a 30hp Yanmar with Kanzaki gear, 25mm shaft, and 3 blade fixed prop, with 17"
diameter and 11 inch pitch (right hand). I am currently using a Volvo 3 blade folding prop ( 17" dia / 12" pitch) You should be able to get information from Ward Richardson at Beneteau in North Carolina or your local Beneteau dealer. I saw two posts from 361 owners who indicated that the 361 shaft diameter is 25mm: however, you should verify that info. You will have to ask Ward or your dealer
to establish an account to allow access to the spare parts site: however, you will still need to order through your dealer. Someone recently posted, that delivery on a prop from Beneteau was around 12 weeks.
You might try the prop shop in Florida for info & alternatives.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

First thing; Beneteau used 25mm or 30mm shafts, not 1 inch.

OUCH !

Now that wouldn't help the situation any. It's pretty unusual to loose a prop with a cotter pin in the shaft to prevent backing off of the rear locking nut.

Maybe the previous prop was a 1.000" tapered bore on a 25 mm. (0.984") tapered shaft. Given a clearance of 0.016" between the prop bore and the shaft, I'd say anything is possible.

 

[BigEasy]

[QUOTE="Ralph Johnstone, post: 1825995, member: 73635 It's pretty unusual to loose a prop with a cotter pin in the shaft to prevent backing off of the rear locking
[/QUOTE]
Ralph,
On that vintage Beneteau, they usually had a washer with bent tab to serve as a locking device. There was a cone shaped zinc incorporated into the nut.
Can’t beat the configuration shown in your photo; that prop isn’t going anywhere!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Can’t beat the configuration shown in your photo; that prop isn’t going anywhere!

The prop lock nuts on my boat (99 H-310) are actually a step up from that one. The thin nut goes on first and is torqued up to the correct torque against the prop. That's not moving come hell or high water. The next nut is a castle nut :

​

.................. and it's job is to prevent the thin lock nut from ever moving. The beauty of this little beast is that you turn it up against the thin lock nut until it's snug. Now you split the difference. If two of the recesses don't quite line up with the hole in the shaft, you reef on the nut until the two slots DO line up with the hole in the shaft, probably slightly over torqued but no harm done as long as your sensible about it. If, on the other hand, it's jut too far to torque to line up the holes, back off slightly until the holes DO line up. It's still up against the thin lock nut, maybe just not as tight as you'd really like it to be.

When you're installing the castle nut, it's not as bad as it sounds as there is sufficient slack to go either looser or tighter if you're right in the middle of the slots and still be up against the thin lock nut.

 

[dlochner]

Before replacing the prop, I think it would be important to know why the prop fell off. Props don't "just" fall off the shaft.

As you note the season is drawing to a close, it may be best to tow your boat to the winter storage site and haul it for winter and inspection of the prop shaft.

 

[THECUSCUS]

Since you had just recently purchased the boat, did you have survey done? The surveyor should have noted the size and pitch of the prop on the survey.

 

[Apex]

all good advice in above posts.....

@dlochner that reminds me of this bit:

 

[jssailem]

I purchased a Campbell Sailor 3 blades prop from WestbyNorth for my 35ft Cal Cruiser. I’ve written about the experience several time here on SBO. I am a believer in the quality of this prop and the improved performance achieved.

Pictures of the prop design.

The original Michigan Wheel 1-2knots slower both under power and sail.

The new Campbell Sailor prop after 5 years in the water.

Contact WestbyNorth.com. Speak with the engineer who runs the shop. He guided me through the process. Answered my questions and delivered what he promised.

 

[BigEasy]

Since you had just recently purchased the boat, did you have survey done? The surveyor should have noted the size and pitch of the prop on the survey.

Probably not going to see that info unless the prop is cleaned. In some cases, like mine, the data is inscribed on the flat surface of the prop where the nut is. Surveyor is not going to clean prop or remove prop to obtain the identifying information.

 

[Mikem]

I purchased a Campbell Sailor 3 blades prop from WestbyNorth for my 35ft Cal Cruiser. I’ve written about the experience several time here on SBO. I am a believer in the quality of this prop and the improved performance achieved.

Pictures of the prop design.

The original Michigan Wheel 1-2knots slower both under power and sail.
View attachment 227349

The new Campbell Sailor prop after 5 years in the water.
View attachment 227350

Contact WestbyNorth.com. Speak with the engineer who runs the shop. He guided me through the process. Answered my questions and delivered what he promised.

I highly recommend the Campbell Sailor prop. My son has one on his hunter 410 and my daughter has one on her 1984 H37C. Great performers. Yachting monthly of sept 09 says this prop has the lowest drag of any fixed three blade prop and the thrust is the highest. Very reasonable price as well.

 

[Allan12210]

Must be an older Beneteau thing. Back in 1993 my wife and I chartered a Beneteau 38 from the Moorings in Grenada. We headed north. Two days later we discovered we weren't motoring very well as we approached Union Island. It was New Year's day. Fortunately there was a cell phone on board and we called the emergency number and got the Mooring's rep (Rick) on Mayreau Island. Of course he thought we were nuts and had us go through the usual checks to make sure the engine was shifting into gear. Then he said continue our course under sail. About an hour later we could see an inflatable with dual outboards coming really fast. He circled around the back to get the boat name and jumped in the water. "Hey, guess what? Your prop fell off". Told you so. We made it to Palm Island to anchor. Another prop would be at the airport the next day. We had a really nice dinner on Palm Island. The next day he came back and picked me up to go to the airport where I could also check in with Customs. It was a long walk as I recall. There was the prop. By the way, did you order a replacement nut? Oops. He took me back to the boat and the next morning my wife and I sailed off the anchor and moved to Mayreau Island where Rick lived. He helped us anchor. It took a couple of days to get a left handed nut. Once fixed, off we went. This is where our ASA courses really paid off. We were completely comfortable sailing without the engine. We could run the engine to keep the batteries charged and the cold plate frozen, so it wasn't too bad. By then time was running short so we only got to make a quick pass through the Tobago Keys which was our original destination. It was beautiful but we couldn't stay. Two days later after customs on Carriacou we made it back to the Moorings base in Grenada. As we pulled in some folks were waiting for us at the dock. "Come up to the office". They were so apologetic. We had planned to stay two more days in their hotel. "How about we give you the first night of your stay Free, tonight's dinner Free and refund $1,000 off your charter cost and you don't have to clean up the boat"? Sounded good to us. All in all probably one of the best sailing vacations we've had. Bruno at the Moorings was terrific.

 

[BigEasy]

Any progress on the replacement prop?

 

[BigEasy]

This is the original 17” dia x 11” pitch prop that was from Beneteau

This the 17” x 12 Volvo prop presently installed

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Any progress on the replacement prop?

Same thing I'm wondering.

 

[StretchCT]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I didn't see these replies until I just logged in again today in another effort to find a vendor who stocks the 25mm bore props. I wasn't getting any email notices on replies anymore so I thought the subject died. I reached out to General Prop, Victoria and West by North for a Campbell.

Must be an older Beneteau thing. Back in 1993 my wife and I chartered a Beneteau 38 from the Moorings in Grenada. We headed north. Two days later we discovered we weren't motoring very well as we approached Union Island. It was New Year's day. Fortunately there was a cell phone on board and we called the emergency number and got the Mooring's rep (Rick) on Mayreau Island. Of course he thought we were nuts and had us go through the usual checks to make sure the engine was shifting into gear. Then he said continue our course under sail. About an hour later we could see an inflatable with dual outboards coming really fast. He circled around the back to get the boat name and jumped in the water. "Hey, guess what? Your prop fell off". Told you so. We made it to Palm Island to anchor. Another prop would be at the airport the next day. We had a really nice dinner on Palm Island. The next day he came back and picked me up to go to the airport where I could also check in with Customs. It was a long walk as I recall. There was the prop. By the way, did you order a replacement nut? Oops. He took me back to the boat and the next morning my wife and I sailed off the anchor and moved to Mayreau Island where Rick lived. He helped us anchor. It took a couple of days to get a left handed nut. Once fixed, off we went. This is where our ASA courses really paid off. We were completely comfortable sailing without the engine. We could run the engine to keep the batteries charged and the cold plate frozen, so it wasn't too bad. By then time was running short so we only got to make a quick pass through the Tobago Keys which was our original destination. It was beautiful but we couldn't stay. Two days later after customs on Carriacou we made it back to the Moorings base in Grenada. As we pulled in some folks were waiting for us at the dock. "Come up to the office". They were so apologetic. We had planned to stay two more days in their hotel. "How about we give you the first night of your stay Free, tonight's dinner Free and refund $1,000 off your charter cost and you don't have to clean up the boat"? Sounded good to us. All in all probably one of the best sailing vacations we've had. Bruno at the Moorings was terrific.

That's a great story. I agree the ASA course did pay off as I could sail onto the mooring.

 

[Tally Ho]

Did you try PYI /MaxProp? Or do you not want /won’t pay for a feathering prop?

Greg

 

[StretchCT]

Did you try PYI /MaxProp? Or do you not want /won’t pay for a feathering prop?

Greg

I'm not finding benefits to be worth the cost. Perhaps once I have some longer passages in mind, I'd go with a folding or feathering prop.