Stainless Steel Shaft vs. Bronze Prop

Jun 2, 2013
21
Catalina 27 boston
Had to replace Hurth Trans on my 1985 - 27' Catalina due to salt water getting in. Discovered that shaft was worn and took mechanics rec to replace it. The new trans is 1 inch longer than the old one and I was going to have the existing shaft cut down by one inch - then found out about how worn the shaft is.New shaft will be stainless - old one was bronze, as is the prop. I intend to use the existing coupler and will have it refaced so as to be squared with the new shaft. Do I have a problem with having two different metals?
 
Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
Who do you have doing the shaft?

I used Rose's Marine up in Gloucester. Very satisfied and highly recommend them.

What kind of coupler do you have (i.e. solid vs. split) and why do you want to reuse it?

Without knowing what you answer to above, I would not have a solid coupler again. The split was much easier to work with and in a pinch I can get the shaft out and back in with relative ease.

Good luck,

Jesse
 
Jan 4, 2006
7,150
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Do I have a problem with having two different metals?
........... not as long as you have something in the mix which is less noble than either the SS shaft or the bronze prop. That something should be a zinc anode for salt water.
 
Oct 5, 2010
322
Catalina 30 mkII St. Augustine
Why have the old shaft cut down? I just replaced my transmission on a c30 with a zf10m also one inch longer then old transmission. I simply slid the old shaft back an inch. All seemed to work fine.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Had to replace Hurth Trans on my 1985 - 27' Catalina due to salt water getting in. Discovered that shaft was worn and took mechanics rec to replace it. The new trans is 1 inch longer than the old one and I was going to have the existing shaft cut down by one inch - then found out about how worn the shaft is.New shaft will be stainless - old one was bronze, as is the prop. I intend to use the existing coupler and will have it refaced so as to be squared with the new shaft. Do I have a problem with having two different metals?
There are only three shops down your way I would let touch boat shafting work:

Roses Marine on the North Shore

Kieth Fenner at Turnwright Machine Works on the Cape

Ron Peck & crew at New England Propeller are also good

You want Aqualoy 22 or Aquamet 22 shafting.
 
Jun 2, 2013
21
Catalina 27 boston
Stainless steel shaft vs bronze prop

Had to replace Hurth Trans on my 1985 - 27' Catalina due to salt water getting in. Discovered that shaft was worn and took mechanics rec to replace it. The new trans is 1 inch longer than the old one and I was going to have the existing shaft cut down by one inch - then found out about how worn the shaft is.New shaft will be stainless - old one was bronze, as is the prop. I intend to use the existing coupler and will have it refaced so as to be squared with the new shaft. Do I have a problem with having two different metals?
Thanks for your reply. I took your advise and am having the work done by Roses Marine. Waiting for the return of the parts and will begin the reinstall asap. I was told that the coupling from the old shaft is in good shape, will be refaced and used on the new ss shaft. the shaft will have to be aligned to within certain micros on the reinstall. Is there a trick as to how is the accomplished? Removing the old shaft was interesting, but was done after a bit of common sense was applied to the job at hand. Is it apparent on the reinstall that "this is how" it should go?
 
Jun 2, 2013
21
Catalina 27 boston
Glad to get your input. The old shaft had several areas that where worn and, per the mechanic, would have been a waste of good money to try to use it. The new shaft would eliminate future problems - as the old shaft continued to deteriorate