1981 Irwin 34 ft citation my strut

[davidyetman321]

Hi guys so I just purchased a Irwin 34 citation 1981 and my strut for my shaft has bit the Dust so my question to you gentlemen and ladies what strut can I use for a replacement and where can I get it as soon as possible I'll be checking in as I have to haul the boat to put this piece back on and it needs to be fast thank you so much for any and all help you can give me David
davidyetman321@gmail.com

 

[capta]

Exactly what is wrong with your strut? Can it be used as a template to cast a new one?
Installing a strut is not a quick operation. I usually remove the shaft, run a line from the center of the transmission flange, centered through the stern tube and then centered through the strut. It may require some building up or removal of the strut's bed to get the line centered through the strut.
I'd figure two or three full work days for yard personnel with experience and the proper tools, possibly a week or more for someone who hasn't done it before and doesn't have the tools.
If it isn't correctly lined up you will go through cutlass bearings pretty quickly, you could damage the tranny and the vibration could be intolerable. There is no 'wiggle' room on this job, no pun intended.

 

[dlochner]

Exactly what is wrong with your strut? Can it be used as a template to cast a new one?
Installing a strut is not a quick operation. I usually remove the shaft, run a line from the center of the transmission flange, centered through the stern tube and then centered through the strut. It may require some building up or removal of the strut's bed to get the line centered through the strut.
I'd figure two or three full work days for yard personnel with experience and the proper tools, possibly a week or more for someone who hasn't done it before and doesn't have the tools.
If it isn't correctly lined up you will go through cutlass bearings pretty quickly, you could damage the tranny and the vibration could be intolerable. There is no 'wiggle' room on this job, no pun intended.

On the surface, replacing a strut seems like an easy job. Having been down that road, it just ain't so.

First, to get a replacement strut carefully remove the exiting strut. It may be possible to cast a new strut or have a replica built from SS. Depends on the boat and the strut.

Then as @capta said, alignment is crucial. A string, laser line, or in my case an old shaft is essential to get the strut lined up correctly. Even with careful alignment, the engine will need to be realigned because no matter how hard you try, it won't be perfect.

I had a new bronze strut cast by Mystic Foundry in Mystic CT. about 10 years ago, it wasn't cheap about $700 for the casting.

If a yard is going to do this, the bill will be high. It is also not a job that can be done on a short haul.

Good Luck!

 

[davidyetman321]

Just need to know what's truck to buy and where to buy it at I have a mechanic on board to replace it but I'd like to have the new strut physically there when I call the boat anybody can help me with that I'd appreciate it thank you again David

 

[kloudie1]

The struts are mostly custom for a boat model.. You'd be extremely lucky to find one without a model # or a part # or some reference from Irwin as to what kind of strut it is.. Not good news, Sorry
I had to replace mine a few years ago and had very good service from Southeastern Foundries Corp, 2706 Oakland Ave, Greensborough, NC. Phone 336-299-7211 .. Ya might give them a call to see if they can help ..
Good luck..

 

[davidyetman321]

Very helpful information thank you so much David

 

[RoyS]

Propeller shops straighten these in a few hours if it is just bent. Alignment as stated above is critical and difficult. When installed correctly you should be able to turn shaft by hand easily. Hate that job!

 

[rardiH36]

I own a 1980 Cherubini Hunter 36. About same age as your 1981 Irwin.

I replaced my strut in 1984. Reason is that the bronze had "gone pink". And sure enough cracked when attempting to replace the cutlass bearing.

I posted a description of my experience. Including my DIY step-by-step correction. Including photos. Four years on, everything about the repair is doing fine.

Each situation will be different. Here is a link to 2014 thread. Maybe you could adapt some of the information. Or at least get a better appreciation of what might be involved -- whatever route you take. The first eight posts are about my initial discovery of the problem and the forum members' discussion. Post #9 contains the step-by-step and photos.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/i...es-ideas-for-replacement.162817/#post-1123679

Also, here is a link to a company offering replacement struts Under the sailboat strut page, and clicking on the individual size, is their note that custom struts can be cast:

http://catalog.hydrasearchrecreational.com/category/struts-1

 

[davidyetman321]

Thank you for your replies but I still have yet to find someone to answer the question where do I call for a new strut with bearing install I hope that makes it clear yes I know it's a hard job I know alignment is critical I know all these things but I'm about to be on the hard with no replacement part

 

[dlochner]

Thank you for your replies but I still have yet to find someone to answer the question where do I call for a new strut with bearing install I hope that makes it clear yes I know it's a hard job I know alignment is critical I know all these things but I'm about to be on the hard with no replacement part

First you have to see what kind of strut you have. Is it a cast bronze strut? a SS Strut? Then you have to remove the strut and take it to either a prop shop to replace or build a new SS strut or to a marine foundry to have a new one cast from the original one. If you have a bronze strut, a prop shop might be able to fabricate a new SS strut which will save some time.

It is highly unlikely that you will find a replacement strut on the shelf that you can buy.

The cutlass bearing is not a big deal. You can do that your self or any decent marine mechanic can do it. If you have a new strut cast, the foundry will likely send it to a machine shop to bore it and install the bearing.

When you get the boat out of the water and the strut off, clean off all the paint and junk to see if, perchance there is a model number or manufacturer number cast into the strut. But don't hold your breath. Do make sure you have a lot of room on your credit card.

 

[davidyetman321]

Thanks
Yes that's truck was made in House at Irwin Yachts down here in Florida and the likelihood of finding one off the shelf is amazing but if I'm so much I would like to have it in hand before I go on hard or I'll be paying double every day you understand my dilemma anyway

 

[KD3PC]

that's truck = the strut....I get it now.

I posted at the same time as the other dave

simply put there is no one to call for a replacement strut - ready to DIY install and sitting on a shelf. For a +35 year old boat that has been out of production for decades. Irwin was not renowned for keeping specific records on each boat, say like Sabre did. Likely they used a variety of castings/struts over the years, and what was cheap and readily available.

Bearings are not installed until the strut is attached, aligned and trued up. Then the bearing is installed and you should be set. They do not come "installed" and it would be a mistake to do so. That laser beam or string needs to be shot through the center of the bearing holder/race/strut and be dead on to the rear of the transmission/reverser.

Were I you, I would start with the phone numbers provided above, and if they can't help you -Ask them if they know where you can get one, how fast and so on.

If all else fails contact a machine shop, local to the boat/marina - with some one on staff who is familiar with marine applications and have one machined. $$$$ At least...but you will have one in a few days.

 

[davidyetman321]

Excellent reply very uplifting and informative other than the $4 signs for the replacement okay buddy thank you

 

[dlochner]

Thanks
Yes that's truck was made in House at Irwin Yachts down here in Florida and the likelihood of finding one off the shelf is amazing but if I'm so much I would like to have it in hand before I go on hard or I'll be paying double every day you understand my dilemma anyway

You might want to look for a cheaper yard to have boat hauled. This will not be a short process. When I replaced a strut on a boat a few years ago, it took several months. I had Mystic River Foundry cast the strut. It has been a while, but I think it took them about 2 months to work me into their schedule and they ended up casting it twice because the first casting failed. Again, it was a long time ago, but I think the cost was around $700. They did send the old strut back. Serves as an expensive paper weight on the work bench.

 

[davidyetman321]

Thank you sir there's a marine attached to where I'm hauling it out and I'm going to work with them tomorrow to see if I can either go on the hook near the marina or possibly tie up on the end of a pier until the part physically comes in and then pull it out that way they can get more Revenue out of me and I think it would be favorable to that thanks for your reply

 

[dlochner]

I can either go on the hook near the marina or possibly tie up on the end of a pier until the part physically comes in

I'm not sure you are understanding the nature of this repair. When you pull the strut off your boat, there will be holes in the bottom of your boat. It can not be in the water. The strut will have to come off the boat so that you can have a new one made. It will take a long time to make all this happen.

 

[davidyetman321]

I know all this thanks for your help I just need to know where to buy a new strut I say that on every post I have a professional to put it in I just need to have one before I pull it out of the water it's not that complicated I reiterated this comment at every single one and what do I get I get very nice people telling me how hard the job it is I'm not doing the job somebody else is Buttrey down through my post you'll see it's going to be a hard job you got to have a lie me and my question was where but thank you for your time

 

[dlochner]

I just need to know where to buy a new strut

You are not listening. You will not be able to buy a new strut until you pull your boat out of the water and remove the old strut. You cannot simply buy a new strut for your boat. They don't make them any more.

 

[Ron20324]

... I have a professional to put it in I just need to have one before I pull it out of the water...

SO, did you ask the guy who is going to install it? There is not always an answer to every quetion, and most answers you get here are opinions, not facts.