I have a 1985 Hunter 31. Yesterday, the mechanic who had winterized the boat called to say he had found some things that he wanted to bring to my attention. First, he said the strut had suffered significant corrosion, something he was used to seeing in H 31's of that vintage. Second he indicated the cutlass bearing was about to go, which I told him I thought was odd, since it was (supposedly) replaced just before I bought the boat last in December of '02. He said the corrosion in the strut may have led to this. He suggests replacing the strut, replacing the original bronze shaft with a steel one, changing the two blade prop to a three blade prop, replacing the seal at the stuffing box, and aligning the engine. Est. of $2-3000. While I appreciated his bringing this to may attention, I wondered what people's experience with these repairs was. Do these sound right for this boat?
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Not unexpected
Some of the recommendations would not be unexpected in a boat of that vintage. I would ask to see the evidence of the corrosion and would try to move the shaft in the cutlass bearing to gauge how bad it really is. Get a second opinion if you are not sure. The cutlass bearing should have lasted a bit longer, unless there is a bent shaft or a badly misaligned engine. I had most of those items replaced in the past few years and the price you were quoted is in the expected range. You will probably have to add a new engine/shaft coupling and perhaps some motor mounts while you are at it.
Some of the recommendations would not be unexpected in a boat of that vintage. I would ask to see the evidence of the corrosion and would try to move the shaft in the cutlass bearing to gauge how bad it really is. Get a second opinion if you are not sure. The cutlass bearing should have lasted a bit longer, unless there is a bent shaft or a badly misaligned engine. I had most of those items replaced in the past few years and the price you were quoted is in the expected range. You will probably have to add a new engine/shaft coupling and perhaps some motor mounts while you are at it.
Hungry Mechanic?
Unless your shaft is bent don't replace it. Check the engine alignment. That could cause premature wear of the cutlass bearing. The two blade prop worked fine for twenty years. Ask him what the payback is for installing a three blade (besides his fee and more drag) Get a second opinion on the strut. I never heard of this type of failure. Repack the original stuff box. It has 80 years of life left in it.
Unless your shaft is bent don't replace it. Check the engine alignment. That could cause premature wear of the cutlass bearing. The two blade prop worked fine for twenty years. Ask him what the payback is for installing a three blade (besides his fee and more drag) Get a second opinion on the strut. I never heard of this type of failure. Repack the original stuff box. It has 80 years of life left in it.
Strut Replacement
Kevin, All they told you is pretty common. If the previous owner failed to keep his shaft zinc fresh and the boat was subjected to some stray current without a zinc on the shaft, the galvanic action will pull some of the alloy out of the bronze strut -- bad. You can see the bronze turn redish when this happens. You can also see the area around the set screws for the cutlass bearing start to break up and shed chips of bronze when the screws are tightened down. If the yard has installed a bearing and they find out the strut is bad, you will probably have to pay for another bearing. If anything above sounds like yours, replace the strut and be glad.
Kevin, All they told you is pretty common. If the previous owner failed to keep his shaft zinc fresh and the boat was subjected to some stray current without a zinc on the shaft, the galvanic action will pull some of the alloy out of the bronze strut -- bad. You can see the bronze turn redish when this happens. You can also see the area around the set screws for the cutlass bearing start to break up and shed chips of bronze when the screws are tightened down. If the yard has installed a bearing and they find out the strut is bad, you will probably have to pay for another bearing. If anything above sounds like yours, replace the strut and be glad.
Strut Replacement
I would check this out further - why would you go to a 3 blade prop? Lots of drag and it isn't a power boat it is sailboat. The cutless bearing may be worn but that isn't a high dollar item in any case. Have him show you that the shaft is bent - if it isn't don't change it! There should be not much more than about .010" of side slop in the shaft in the cutless bearing, if it is more find out why, the alignment issue might be the problem. I kind of duobt the strut itself is toast, although galvanic corrosion can do it in, but still it almost sounds like a slow day at the boat yard to me - get a second opinion from someone before shelling out that kind of bucks!
I would check this out further - why would you go to a 3 blade prop? Lots of drag and it isn't a power boat it is sailboat. The cutless bearing may be worn but that isn't a high dollar item in any case. Have him show you that the shaft is bent - if it isn't don't change it! There should be not much more than about .010" of side slop in the shaft in the cutless bearing, if it is more find out why, the alignment issue might be the problem. I kind of duobt the strut itself is toast, although galvanic corrosion can do it in, but still it almost sounds like a slow day at the boat yard to me - get a second opinion from someone before shelling out that kind of bucks!
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