I really need help. Has any one ever removed the prop shaft strut that sits just forward of the rudder on a 28? I have loosened the 4 screws from the outside with an impact drill but they just spin now. I know there are nuts on the other end of theses screws but they are not exposed and therefore must be imbedded in the fiberglass???? What do I do now! Please! Anyone with any knowledge of how this strut is fixed to the boat and it's proper removal please contact me at joeroc@charter.net I'm due to launch very soon and cannot without a prop shaft!
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Removing strut
Tom - There was a recent series of posts on this subject in the "Ask All Sailors" forum. The general consensus of opinion was that you should NOT remove the strut. To get it re-bedded & alligned correctly is difficult. As you observed , the nuts inside the boat are bedded in fiberglass and you'll have to cut away the glass to access them, and then re-glass when the bolts/nuts are replaced.
Tom - There was a recent series of posts on this subject in the "Ask All Sailors" forum. The general consensus of opinion was that you should NOT remove the strut. To get it re-bedded & alligned correctly is difficult. As you observed , the nuts inside the boat are bedded in fiberglass and you'll have to cut away the glass to access them, and then re-glass when the bolts/nuts are replaced.
Strut must be removed
Dear TT, Unfortunately it is toolate for me to turn back. I will be ssing this through to the end. Do recall which thread dealt with the strut removal process? I looked but could not find it. Thanks TOM
Dear TT, Unfortunately it is toolate for me to turn back. I will be ssing this through to the end. Do recall which thread dealt with the strut removal process? I looked but could not find it. Thanks TOM
Too Late! Strut must be removed
Dear TT, Unfortunately it is toolate for me to turn back. I will be ssing this through to the end. Do recall which thread dealt with the strut removal process? I looked but could not find it. Thanks TOM
Dear TT, Unfortunately it is toolate for me to turn back. I will be ssing this through to the end. Do recall which thread dealt with the strut removal process? I looked but could not find it. Thanks TOM
Tom, you'll have to grind out the glass
Where the nuts are, why they are turning is strange but you are at a point of no return. There was a bunch of posts about struts on different forums just type in "stut" in the archive and read the posts, here's one from April on the same subject and a cutlass brearing
Where the nuts are, why they are turning is strange but you are at a point of no return. There was a bunch of posts about struts on different forums just type in "stut" in the archive and read the posts, here's one from April on the same subject and a cutlass brearing
glutton for "struttin'" punishment
I was fortunate enough to speak directly to a guy name Rudy who owns D&R Marine in Massachusetts. He worked at the Oday factory and said that although it was not a particularly good design, the way that the shaft is removed/replaced is by strut removal/replacement. I really just wish I could find anyone who did it this way to tell me exactly where to start grinding!!! IS THERE ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT KNOWS????!!!! Thanks! Tom Noank,CT
I was fortunate enough to speak directly to a guy name Rudy who owns D&R Marine in Massachusetts. He worked at the Oday factory and said that although it was not a particularly good design, the way that the shaft is removed/replaced is by strut removal/replacement. I really just wish I could find anyone who did it this way to tell me exactly where to start grinding!!! IS THERE ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT KNOWS????!!!! Thanks! Tom Noank,CT
I'm a glutton for "struttin'" punishment
I was fortunate enough to speak directly to a guy name Rudy who owns D&R Marine in Massachusetts. He worked at the Oday factory and said that although it was not a particularly good design, the way that the shaft is removed/replaced is by strut removal/replacement. I really just wish I could find anyone who did it this way to tell me exactly where to start grinding!!! IS THERE ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT KNOWS????!!!! Thanks! Tom Noank,CT
I was fortunate enough to speak directly to a guy name Rudy who owns D&R Marine in Massachusetts. He worked at the Oday factory and said that although it was not a particularly good design, the way that the shaft is removed/replaced is by strut removal/replacement. I really just wish I could find anyone who did it this way to tell me exactly where to start grinding!!! IS THERE ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT KNOWS????!!!! Thanks! Tom Noank,CT
Tom,
Figure out where the strut is located inside the boat and right above it will be a lump or a mound of fiberglass that should be noticable and different from the area around it, thats where you grind out to access the nuts and when replacing just use two people and have someone in the boat and you outside to tighten every thing up. I had to replace one bolt and I just drilled thru the mound and put a long bolt with the nut on top of the moumd and sealed it up with 5200 sealant and the other three bolts are the way the factory did it. BTW pay close attention to any washers or shims and there exact location to be sure of shaft alignment.(mine had 3 or 4 washers on the aft edge to get the angle correct) Good luck BTW register your self on the site and it will remember you, the last two posts were from you not me, but it looks like they were from me.
Figure out where the strut is located inside the boat and right above it will be a lump or a mound of fiberglass that should be noticable and different from the area around it, thats where you grind out to access the nuts and when replacing just use two people and have someone in the boat and you outside to tighten every thing up. I had to replace one bolt and I just drilled thru the mound and put a long bolt with the nut on top of the moumd and sealed it up with 5200 sealant and the other three bolts are the way the factory did it. BTW pay close attention to any washers or shims and there exact location to be sure of shaft alignment.(mine had 3 or 4 washers on the aft edge to get the angle correct) Good luck BTW register your self on the site and it will remember you, the last two posts were from you not me, but it looks like they were from me.
THanks,Rad
THanks for your input. I'm glad I'n not alone in all this. I did notice that "hump" that you spoke about. I was just wary of grinding glass until I was sure I wan't going to put a hole in my boat. I don't know if I mentioned that I spoke with an ex Oday employee that says that strut removal was the intended method for shaft replacement and even cutlass replacement. It seems like a poor design that wasn't thought through from a mechanic's point of view but hey what are you gonna do? According to this guy though, you shouldn't have to do any glass work on the exterior of the hull upon replacing the strut. Does that sound right to you? Thanks, Tom BTW I did notice that I sent those posts with your name instead of my own. Sorry about that!
THanks for your input. I'm glad I'n not alone in all this. I did notice that "hump" that you spoke about. I was just wary of grinding glass until I was sure I wan't going to put a hole in my boat. I don't know if I mentioned that I spoke with an ex Oday employee that says that strut removal was the intended method for shaft replacement and even cutlass replacement. It seems like a poor design that wasn't thought through from a mechanic's point of view but hey what are you gonna do? According to this guy though, you shouldn't have to do any glass work on the exterior of the hull upon replacing the strut. Does that sound right to you? Thanks, Tom BTW I did notice that I sent those posts with your name instead of my own. Sorry about that!
Tom,
You will not have to do any glass work out side the hull or inside if you cut out the bolts without cutting away to much of the HUMP, I would make a slice downward about an inch than a sideways cut to meet the first cut and peel away this hunk which should have a shape like a small section of an orange and you shold see your bolts and nuts,like I said in the last post I would not worry about reglassing the nuts back in.
You will not have to do any glass work out side the hull or inside if you cut out the bolts without cutting away to much of the HUMP, I would make a slice downward about an inch than a sideways cut to meet the first cut and peel away this hunk which should have a shape like a small section of an orange and you shold see your bolts and nuts,like I said in the last post I would not worry about reglassing the nuts back in.
Victory strut
Just wanted to say thanks to all. I sucessfully completed my strut removal and shaft replacement job. Theer had been a nuber of suggestions that this was a bad idea to remove the strut. I can only speak for my 28 but other than the dust from grinding the glass resin that covered the nuts the whole job took only 3 hours. I took lots of pics and plan on creating a web page for any one who wants to see how it was done.
Just wanted to say thanks to all. I sucessfully completed my strut removal and shaft replacement job. Theer had been a nuber of suggestions that this was a bad idea to remove the strut. I can only speak for my 28 but other than the dust from grinding the glass resin that covered the nuts the whole job took only 3 hours. I took lots of pics and plan on creating a web page for any one who wants to see how it was done.
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