dangitdangitdangit!!!

[Gary_H]

So Sunday Morning, after having a great day on the water the previous day and spending a beautiful night on the free town mooring ball, I cut loose and headed back to my dock to do the chores that I was supposed to do the previous day. Half way there I noticed a slight vibration that definitely wasn't there before. After securing myself back in my slip I decided to investigate. Hauling out my diving gear, I took a little trip under the boat. What I saw made my heart sink...(which isn't good because theres three ft of mud under the boat and it took a while to find it again)! Anyway..looking at the running gear I could see that the rubber part of the cutlass bearing had separated from the casing, backed out of the strut and was splayed up around the back of the propeller hub like a banana peel. Needless to say I was bummed out. My enthusiasm for finishing my boat projects was gone and I packed up and went home early with visions of negative dollar signs swirling through my head.
So I will have to have my boat towed to the boat yard ten miles away, hauled out and cutlass bearing replaced. On the bright side, While looking around on the web I found a full service boatyard within 1.5 miles of my dock that I didn't know about, so If they can do the job, it might not be such a long tow after all.

Ain't boat ownership fun? ...actually despite all this ...yes it is.

 

[RichH]

Boat Gremlins !!!!!! ... every boat has at least 6-10 boat gremlins that are just waiting to 'pounce' when you least expect them.
Just like in the movie "Gremlins", the gremlins only appear and are 'activated' when the boat is wet (in the water).

examples:
thru-hull valves only break when the boat is in the water, never when the boat is hauled and 'on the hard'.
Folding/Feather props never "get stuck" when the boat is on land
Cutless bearings and pump impellers are probably 'allergic' to water.
Chainplates never leak when youre looking directly at them.
Anchor rodes never break when youre awake, only when youre sleeping.
etc. etc. etc.

An absolute corollary: ..... having a boat in the WATER 'activates' the boat gremlins.
:-o

 

[Ken13559]

My friend is an arm chair sailor. He's always dreaming up on what his trimaran should be like but ever actually own any boats. I think he's real smart. Those pesky water activated Gremlins never had a chance to bounce on him.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

And of Course ..........................

................... that $%^#&*#@ leak that NEVER shows itself when it's not raining but always appears when it's pouring and everything's awash in rainwater :cussing:.

ALMOST makes you want to give up !

 

[Witzend]

Cutlass bearings have been replaced while in the water with a diver with the right tools and knowledge. The hard may be over, if the casing has been displaced as well, and not just the rubber. Regardless of where the job is done, I would make sure there is no damage to the shaft.

 

[Gary_H]

Cutlass bearings have been replaced while in the water with a diver with the right tools and knowledge. The hard may be over, if the casing has been displaced as well, and not just the rubber. Regardless of where the job is done, I would make sure there is no damage to the shaft.

I thought about that but I have a feeling it may not come out easy,the strut may have to be heated up. I believe that it's very likely the original cutlass bearing that came with the boat.It's probably going to require a hydraulic press to get it out. I might attempt it if I had the proper tool, which I would probably have to build. But I'll take a closer look at it when I go back to the boat because I'm going to remove the prop and have the pitch changed a little.

 

[rgranger]

If it is only 1.5 miles you might get by rigging a trolling motor on a calm day and save yourself a little $. Or.... maybe use the sails....

Just a thought.

Good luck.

 

[Gary_H]

If it is only 1.5 miles you might get by rigging a trolling motor on a calm day and save yourself a little $. Or.... maybe use the sails....

Just a thought.

Good luck.

Thanks, yea If I go to that one I can practically drift there on the tide. I will only need a little power getting up their little canal to the boatyard itself. With our normal prevailing winds and waiting for the tide I will have no problem sailing as far as the entrance to the canal. Since I haven't been there before I'm not certain if the canal and their basin is sail-able.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Gary,

Sorry as I am a bit late in this thread but fear not pal, as the right yard w/tools can do this easily.

Ask if they have an gear puller type of tool to press the cutlass bearing out. If so, they can remove the prop, and slide this tool to your cutlass bearing. Just like a gear puller, they can push out the old and press in the new.

If this is not an option, the shaft will have to be removed and a hack saw used to cut 3 grooves lengthwise thru the bearing housing. It's a little tricky but after grooving, a screwdriver tapping up the ends will loosen the pieces and you can pull them out. I did it this way twice & it worked fine. It will just cost more what with yard charges.

My cutlass was installed thru a cut hole from inside. My first haulout & cutlass bearing change almost sunk my boat.

The mud they used inside to seal the bearing, was cracked because of BANGING OUT THE OLD BEARING. I would check for the proper yard, even if it is a longer tow.........

CR