This was week # 6 since I ruptured my achillies tendon and even though I am still in an orthopedic boot and can't put any weight on my leg for 6 more weeks, I convinced my wife it would be OK to take out our 356 even if we just motored down the mystic river. We are at a slip and it is easy for me to crawl on and off the boat. I was at the helm and my wife cast off all the lines. The wind and current were light and at our back so I just put the boat in forward, min RPM and we started to leave the slip. Once we were clear of the pilings, I turned down the fairway and increased the RPM to pull out. The engine revs came up but their was no torque from the prop. I shifted into and out of gear a few times and the boat definately shifted but no bite from the prop in forward or reverse. Luckily there was a large vacant slip on the other side of the fairway and we were able to get close enough to throw some lines to folks on the dock and they pulled us in with no damage etc. Went down below to see if the shaft was turning which it was and I could shift into forward and reverse but no wash from the 3 blade fixed pitch prop. We were towed back to our slip and this morning and one of our dock mates went in the water to make sure the prop was still there which it was. He did notice that there was a large buildup of barnicles and some seaweed slime on the prop which he removed with a putty knife. We statrted the engine up again left the dock lines on this time and the boat pulled against the lines with no problem. I never would have expected marine growth to totally foul a prop in 6 or 7 weeks especially here in the Northeast but it did. Glad it wasn't anything major and just wanted to pass this experience on to others in case they find themselves in a similar situation.
it was OK for you to go out ! P.S. tell Jane we said hi and hope she is feeling better !