Propeller shaft fell out while under sail

[flight326]

I'm brand spanking new at sailing and boating so pardon the novice questions and wrong terms. I recently took my S2 27 (8.1) out for a sail, at some point we started taking on water (ankle high), needless to say it was quite the ordeal. Anyhow all turned out ok, made it back to the marina under sail (no propulsion) and figured out that the prop shaft had come completely out. The two locking bolts with tie wire and counter nuts were still installed on the collar. I was told later that this hasn't been serviced since new (1985 model). What would cause the shaft to fall out like this? Is it something I did?

The boat is still in the water but now noticed that the stuffing box is dripping quite a bit at stand still. From what I've read it should drip two drops per min while spinning. I will try and tighten it first but if not successful can I replace the packing while it is in the water?

Thank you all in advance for your suggestions and advice!

 

[dparilla]

Failure of the coupling (the prop was loose in the collar.) Don't just tighten the stuffing box. Repack it! You can do it in the water, but be prepared for water to flow in. It is not a huge flood as long as the shaft is in place, but I wrap an old cut inner tube around the stern tube and shaft and use a plastic zip tie to hold it in place while I pack the stuffing. If this makes you nervous, then schedule a haul out. Check out mainesail's page he has good step by step pictures and instructions.

 

[flight326]

Thank you Dan, appreciate your advice. I will look through mainsail's page for the info.

 

[BobM]

Wow...

I did this job. Can't think of anything you could have done or how this could have happened off hand. Perhaps something wrapping and binding the prop and shaft so they couldn't spin causing the coupling to essentially machine the end of the shaft. Do you have the shaft and prop or did they deep six?

In any case, I had mine all redone and by the time I was done I could have bought everything new except the prop at http://www.deepblueyachtsupply.com an gotten the parts faster.

For a new coupling, be sure to get a split one. They are far easier to fit the shaft into. There is no way I can think of to do the job in the water. Get the parts, pull the boat and then do it in the slings if they will let you, or work out a short haul (a few days). Be sure to replace the stuffing box hose while you are at it as it is original too and can sink your boat. You have had enough experience in that department. Replace the cutless bearing when you do the shaft. It is a piece of cake to do when the shaft is out. Just need a length of threaded rod and some washers to pull the old one out (remove the set screws first of course) and push the new one in.

DO NOT hammer the end of the shaft with the coupling against the transmission. I had to tap it into the coupling, but put a board across it and transferred as much of the tapping to the engine mounts. You can ruin the transmission. Take the slide hammer approach. Many soft taps not few big ones. I tried to jimmy the split in the coupling open a bit first too. It seemed to help.

 

[BobT]

Losing the shaft out the backbeat is amazing. I had mine out on the bench with pb blaster and clamps and a whole lot of effort and couldn't loosen that collar. Hope you enjoy the 27. I love mine.

 

[flight326]

I did this job. Can't think of anything you could have done or how this could have happened off hand. Perhaps something wrapping and binding the prop and shaft so they couldn't spin causing the coupling to essentially machine the end of the shaft. Do you have the shaft and prop or did they deep six?

In any case, I had mine all redone and by the time I was done I could have bought everything new except the prop at http://www.deepblueyachtsupply.com an gotten the parts faster.

For a new coupling, be sure to get a split one. They are far easier to fit the shaft into. There is no way I can think of to do the job in the water. Get the parts, pull the boat and then do it in the slings if they will let you, or work out a short haul (a few days). Be sure to replace the stuffing box hose while you are at it as it is original too and can sink your boat. You have had enough experience in that department. Replace the cutless bearing when you do the shaft. It is a piece of cake to do when the shaft is out. Just need a length of threaded rod and some washers to pull the old one out (remove the set screws first of course) and push the new one in.

DO NOT hammer the end of the shaft with the coupling against the transmission. I had to tap it into the coupling, but put a board across it and transferred as much of the tapping to the engine mounts. You can ruin the transmission. Take the slide hammer approach. Many soft taps not few big ones. I tried to jimmy the split in the coupling open a bit first too. It seemed to help.

@Bob M - Thank you for the insight and the explanation. Luckily the shaft did not deep six, it dangled by a hair. It appears that the collar bolts were never checked by the previous owner (28 yrs) so it might of been just waiting to happen. I've managed to tighten the stuffing box to one drop at 50sec at stand still. After two weeks it is holding together fine so I will keep an eye on it and heed your advice to do it when I have pulled it out of the water in October. I will replace everything then, hoses, stuffing box, bolts, bearing, collar and prop shaft. I will get it all from deepblueyachts. Thanks again!

@Bob T - Amazing was what I thought until I heard from a few other boaters that it has happened to them. In my case it seems like lack of maintenance over the years could do it.