Propeller nut woes...

Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
Put a new propeller on my 1" shaft.

The old propeller was held on by two nuts and no cotter pin. I ordered a castle nut but even utilizing the thinner jam nut I can not get access to the cotter pin hole in the shaft. I need about another 1/4" before the hole lines up and there is too little meat left on the shaft to drill a new cotter pin hole.

Any suggestions? I really do want to use a cotter pin here.
 

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Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
Just had a though while looking at the pictures I posted. Could I put the castle nut on with the crown forward if the hole lines up?
 
Feb 20, 2011
7,990
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Just tossing this out there-

Think you could shim it with some bronze/aluminum/stainless washers?
 
Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
I was thinking of that. Just ditching the second nut and going with stainless washers and the castle nut/ cotter pin. Is it bad mojo jnot to have two nuts?

:p
 
Jan 4, 2006
6,444
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Is it bad mojo jnot to have two nuts?
Don't know how it would affect your mojo but I suspect it would have a significant effect on your voice :redface:.

Barring that, and if you're determined to have a lock nut, any chance you could grind down the leading lock nut until it was the right thickness ? Doesn't look like it would take much until you could get a pin into the castle nut.

However, if that won't work, I agree with justsomeguy that a single castle nut and shim washers would be preferable and the cotter pin is mandatory. Lock nuts alone just aren't secure enough.

The attached shows a single castle nut and pin on our boat. If I'm not mistaken, I think most boats I've seen while working on the hard only have a single crown nut and pin.
 

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Apex

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Jun 19, 2013
1,197
C&C 30 Elk Rapids
Did you lap in the propeller? You may get the added distance and more secure propeller fitment.
 
Aug 8, 2006
340
Catalina 34 Naples FL
I noticed your prop has a flair at the ends of the blades like winglets on an airplane. What is that? I have not seen this before.
 
Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
I noticed your prop has a flair at the ends of the blades like winglets on an airplane. What is that? I have not seen this before.
It's an Indigo 3 blade. They designed it just for the Atomic 4. Folks say you can get about 2k +rpm and 6.5 knots out of it on a Catalina 30. Good reverse also. Hope all the fan fair is justified.
 
Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
Did you lap in the propeller? You may get the added distance and more secure propeller fitment.
I think I will try that. Still have the puller so nothing to loose.