Amazing shaft situation

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Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
Shaft lines are more tolerant than you might think. This large powerboat was hauled in the marina today to check if something in the wheel might be the cause of vibration. It was a check, not an emergency haul out. This is the way it looked when hauled, nature took off the nuts holding the stern bearing on.



The boat has been operating nearly daily since last haul out with a professional master. The power train hasn't felt quite right but nothing indicated that anything like this could have happened. The shaft is worn about 1/16" and shows heat as well as wear damage. It wore down about 1/2" through the fiberglass and the aft end of the stern bearing casting was mushroomed over from spinning against the prop hub face. Judging from the size of the barnacles on the sternpost where the bearing flange used to be, it has been running like this for quite a while.
 
robertsapp

robertsapp

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May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
I'd fire my diver immediately. Or do you people who live in places where the water gets hard not use them?
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,093
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
The good thing is that it is probably fine to go back together.. after cleaning up the mushroom and making sure that the wear groove is not a sharp Vee.. this time I suspect he'll be using lock nuts.
 
robertsapp

robertsapp

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May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
This didn't happen immediately, it most likely developed over time, and I would expect my diver to make note of such things while cleaning my bottom. If my diver hadn't noticed this developing and warned me about it, I'd can him on the spot. Just like when they tell me my zincs are at 80%, and when I haul out it turns out they're gone. Strongly indicates that they're not actually performing the sevices they say they are, they're just cashing the checks.
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,440
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
robertsapp said:
This didn't happen immediately, it most likely developed over time, and I would expect my diver to make note of such things while cleaning my bottom. If my diver hadn't noticed this developing and warned me about it, I'd can him on the spot. Just like when they tell me my zincs are at 80%, and when I haul out it turns out they're gone. Strongly indicates that they're not actually performing the sevices they say they are, they're just cashing the checks.
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You have no clue how long it had been since a diver had been under the boat. That all could've easily happened in the interim between hull cleanings. Further, if there had been gross evidence of a problem that the diver missed or ignored, chances are he wasn't doing a good job in general to begin with. The owner is responsible for making sure the service providers are reputable and trustworthy. If he uses a particular diver simply because their rates are lower than everyone else's, then he carries as much blame as the diver if important maintenance is not being performed or problems reported.

Bottom line- there is too much that is unknown in this situation for you to immediately shout, "Fire the diver!" Clearly you feel that you have been burned before. Doesn't mean that the OP's diver is doing the same to him.
 
E

Ed A

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Sep 27, 2008
333
Hunter 37c Tampa
Wow we hit a nerve!

fstbttms said:
You have no clue how long it had been since a diver had been under the boat. That all could've easily happened in the interim between hull cleanings. Further, if there had been gross evidence of a problem that the diver missed or ignored, chances are he wasn't doing a good job in general to begin with. The owner is responsible for making sure the service providers are reputable and trustworthy. If he uses a particular diver simply because their rates are lower than everyone else's, then he carries as much blame as the diver if important maintenance is not being performed or problems reported.

Bottom line- there is too much that is unknown in this situation for you to immediately shout, "Fire the diver!" Clearly you feel that you have been burned before. Doesn't mean that the OP's diver is doing the same to him.
Click to expand

The diver may have noticed the nuts coming loose, or the pick color of the nuts, (you can clearly see the color change on the threads. I would bet the nuts were an even brighter pink. I would suspect the dissimilar metal corrosion caused the problem, the top bolt probably let go last.

If the operator of this boat did not feel this problem as it occured or when he must have been stoned! Damage to these components comes pretty violently!
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,440
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
Ed A said:
The diver may have noticed the nuts coming loose, or the pick color of the nuts...
Click to expand
Well, since the boat apparently lives in Maine, it may never see a diver during the sailing season.
 
robertsapp

robertsapp

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May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
fstbttms said:
The owner is responsible for making sure the service providers are reputable and trustworthy.
Click to expand
If my diver had not reported this condition as a developing problem, and I only found it on a haul out after a complete driveline failure, I would consider that sufficient evidence that the diver was neither reputable nor trustworthy (or at the very least, completely incompetent) , and I would feel completely justified in firing him.

I do recognize though that those who dwell in areas where the water gets hard may not have their bottoms checked as often as those of us who live where we must keep one eye on the tropical weather forecast at all times. If someone hasn't been underneath my boat in over four weeks, well, I don't sleep quite as soundly. Cheers.
 
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