Shaft log repair/replace

[justinsteele]

Hi,

I pulled my prop shaft to clean things up, replace the cutlass bearing, assess the stuffing box, motor mounts are on the list etc. Unfortunately once the stuffing box came out I found the shaft log completely worn away on the bottom. Honestly I'm a bit surprised it didn't sink. Any insight on repair? Can I just bore it out and epoxy a new one in place or do I need to grind all the glass inside the hull back and re build it up with the new one in place?

[Ron Hill]

Justin : How about a picture of what that shaft/log looks like now. 

Also always give your production year and hull # so we can give you the best answer!!

A few thoughts

[justinsteele]

Sorry, new to this and figuring out how to post images. see if this works.
1987 Catalina 34
Hull 401

https://imgur.com/a/4Tist6U

[KWKloeber]

OUCH!!!!!

A little Bondo and buff it out.

Looks like besides a new log an engine (re) alignment was overdue?

-Ken

[Ron Hill]

Justin : Not too sure if this suggestion will work or not?? 

If you have that broken piece see if you can put it back in place and make a single wrap of fiberglass mat around it ending with the joint on the top. Then wet that mat with glass and let it set.

The reason I' said it "might" work is because you'll need to get the rubber log over your repair so you can clamp it in place. you probably will need to file/sand that joint smooth. You might be able to use a heat gun to soften the rubber log and slide it over the repaired "donkey dick" (PVC pipe)??

It might be worth a try??

A few thoughts

[KWKloeber]

It might be worth a try??

Really?  REALLY??

Worth a try — if perhaps one doesn't mind cobbing up this key thru hull on their boat.

Not to mention that the pic clearly shows the log was WORN away, not "broken", and the hole goes nearly clear to the entire exposed length of the log.  So not only would getting the correct Log Hose (not exhaust hose) onto it, the "joint" can't be adequately reinforced at the aft end and be able to properly fit a log hose to it.

"NO" Justin, don't even THINK about such a cob job.

[Ron Hill]

Justin : Sorry about my inapt suggestion.  You best slap some "Bondo on it and buff it out"!!!

A thought

[waughoo]

That is going to be tricky to rebuild in place due to the minimum clearance on the underside.  I would seek some expert opinions from some well accomplished fiberglass repair vendors and see what they come up with.

[High Current]

I just posted about similar findings:
  (https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,11983.0.html)

If you look at my pictures, the rectangular cracks in the fairing around the log suggest the original may have been pre-glassed into a larger rectangular assembly.

I'm no fiberglass expert, but I would think sandwiching it in layers of fiberglass that are appropriately tapered into the hull above and below would be much more robust than simply boring it out and gluing in a new one, and probably easier in the end too.

My other suggestion would be to put the shaft back in and shim it so it's centered relative to what's left of the tube.  Assuming you have the cutlass bearing out, you'll also have to shim it so it's properly centered in the strut as well.  Re-align the motor based on the proper shaft position.  You can then use the motor, strut, and shaft to achieve correct alignment when installing the new tube.

Also take a good hard look at your strut with a magnifying glass to make sure you don't have the kind of corrosion / fracture mine had.  If you were that far out of alignment, it could've seen some stress.