I just had a line wrap around my prop shaft the other day, ripping the strut out of the bottom of the boat. Has anybody on here had a similar experience and if so what kind of things had to be done to the boat to get it seaworthy again?
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Paul Akers
Have your boat yard check it. But...
...be sure to get the prop checked. You may have knocked it out of pitch. This is the source of many different types of performance problems, so nip it in the bud while they have it removed. Also, it may be covered by your insurance.
...be sure to get the prop checked. You may have knocked it out of pitch. This is the source of many different types of performance problems, so nip it in the bud while they have it removed. Also, it may be covered by your insurance.
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Ed Schenck
How bad?
That's a shame Brian. But it doesn't look too bad in the picture. Did the bolts pull all the way through the hull or break off or ? ? ? Laying up some cloth and epoxy to rebuild that area is not very difficult. Then a couple of large stainless thrust washers under the original washers with a couple of new fiber locknuts and back in business. I used 5200 in the holes and between the strut and the hull. Your experience suggests NOT using a big packing plate. Maybe better to have the strut rip two small holes in the bottom than a much larger hole. Or would a backing plate have stopped it from ripping anything?
That's a shame Brian. But it doesn't look too bad in the picture. Did the bolts pull all the way through the hull or break off or ? ? ? Laying up some cloth and epoxy to rebuild that area is not very difficult. Then a couple of large stainless thrust washers under the original washers with a couple of new fiber locknuts and back in business. I used 5200 in the holes and between the strut and the hull. Your experience suggests NOT using a big packing plate. Maybe better to have the strut rip two small holes in the bottom than a much larger hole. Or would a backing plate have stopped it from ripping anything?
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Walt G
Call Your Insurance Company
Your prop, shaft, and strut will have to be checked out, possibly and quite likely requiring removal. Based on the photo, it looks as if your strut attachment bolts are sheared or have pulled through the hull -- either situation will require that the strut be dropped. And if you're doing that, the cutless bearing should be replaced at the same time. I've removed the strut on my 1979 37c for replacement of a broken bolt. It's a bear of a job, requiring access to the strut bolts through the small cutout in the confined compartment behind the engine. If you do end up removing the strut to examine the extent of hull damage (which I would do if it were my boat) everything will have to be realigned upon reassembly, and this is a time-consuming process as well. I've done this once and wouldn't want to do it again. Consider filing a claim with your insurance carrier.
Your prop, shaft, and strut will have to be checked out, possibly and quite likely requiring removal. Based on the photo, it looks as if your strut attachment bolts are sheared or have pulled through the hull -- either situation will require that the strut be dropped. And if you're doing that, the cutless bearing should be replaced at the same time. I've removed the strut on my 1979 37c for replacement of a broken bolt. It's a bear of a job, requiring access to the strut bolts through the small cutout in the confined compartment behind the engine. If you do end up removing the strut to examine the extent of hull damage (which I would do if it were my boat) everything will have to be realigned upon reassembly, and this is a time-consuming process as well. I've done this once and wouldn't want to do it again. Consider filing a claim with your insurance carrier.
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Brian
It's bad
Yes. Unfortunately I did rip the bolts through the hull and she started taking on water. I am getting the insurance co. involved as I am guessing it will be several thousand in repairs. It just seems to me that the shaft strut may be a weak area in the design. Has anybody tried beefing up the backing plate? What about using prop spurs to cut any line that gets caught around the prop? It just really stinks that it happened in the beginning of the season.
Yes. Unfortunately I did rip the bolts through the hull and she started taking on water. I am getting the insurance co. involved as I am guessing it will be several thousand in repairs. It just seems to me that the shaft strut may be a weak area in the design. Has anybody tried beefing up the backing plate? What about using prop spurs to cut any line that gets caught around the prop? It just really stinks that it happened in the beginning of the season.
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Ed Schenck
Several thousand?
That might be the quote but I could do it in my marina for less than $200. And $100. of that is for the haul and launch. Reglassing that area will not be that difficult for someone with experience. Let me reiterate about a backing plate. If you would have had a backing plate what would have happened? Would the strut have held? Or would it have ripped one really big hole that the bilge pump could not handle? As previously noted you will want to check the prop, the shaft, and replace the cutlass bearing. Also check the engine mounts and alignment once you are in the water again. Good luck and keep us posted.
That might be the quote but I could do it in my marina for less than $200. And $100. of that is for the haul and launch. Reglassing that area will not be that difficult for someone with experience. Let me reiterate about a backing plate. If you would have had a backing plate what would have happened? Would the strut have held? Or would it have ripped one really big hole that the bilge pump could not handle? As previously noted you will want to check the prop, the shaft, and replace the cutlass bearing. Also check the engine mounts and alignment once you are in the water again. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Brian
Good rates Ed!
Wow, those are pretty good rates Ed. For my haul out, under normal conditions (not emergency) it costs me about $10/ft LOA. I'm not sure if I had a backing plate if it would have just ripped a big hole or not. It very well could have given the size of the line. Have you ever had any experience with spurs? I guess they are supposed to cut any line that gets wrapped around your prop and shaft.
Wow, those are pretty good rates Ed. For my haul out, under normal conditions (not emergency) it costs me about $10/ft LOA. I'm not sure if I had a backing plate if it would have just ripped a big hole or not. It very well could have given the size of the line. Have you ever had any experience with spurs? I guess they are supposed to cut any line that gets wrapped around your prop and shaft.
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