Two major events happened today. HELP!!!
1. While on way to pump out, it sounded like the prop shaft zinc came loose. When we arrived at our dock, the prop wrapped in the dock line.
2. Dove in and discovered:
a) prop had corroded.
b) prop shaft had pulled away from strut.
c) underside of strut holding shaft was gone.
How do I fix this? And worse, how much do you think it will cost?
Parts?
First thing. If you haven't done so yet. Check your stuffing box for leaking. Think that I would over tighten the packing, you won't be turning the shaft till it's fixed. I would just be quessing at a cost.
Hope the rest of your season goes better.
Jim
Lance, we're so sorry to hear, and glad that you both are OK and safe.
The answer is to get the boat hauled asap and have the yard describe what they plan to do, make a list yourself, share it with us and see if they're missing things or doing too much. And comment on the $#s they're giving you.
We can help you with that kinda stuff online here.
Good luck, God bless and this, too, shall pass... :thumb:
My reply on the zinc was premature. It sounds like your marina is hot. Before you splash again have it checked out so it doesn't happen again. The other option is that you wired something on the boat wrong. Review any work you have done recently.
Lance,
If you are having work done by a yard I would recomend Sneads Boat works excellent!!!
Paul
What amrina did you finaly go to?
Hey Paul,
I'm up in Shalimar.
To the rest, I have a ground wire to my starter battery combiner that had frayed and laying on the hull. Would that be the culprit?
I know i'll need a replacement strut and cutlass bearing, Where can i find those? Primarily the strut as I know where to get the cutlass.
Catalina Direct probably has a strut or Catalina Yachts themselves. The latter is probably closer to you.
Lance,
Sounds like a pretty serious DC leak on-board your boat. Start with bilge pump wiring then examine every wire inch by inch or hire an ABYC trained corrosion tech... DC leaks are fast and can literally sink boats...
Quote from: Lance Jones on May 16, 2014, 03:50:49 PM
Two major events happened today. HELP!!!
1. While on way to pump out, it sounded like the prop shaft zinc came loose. When we arrived at our dock, the prop wrapped in the dock line.
2. Dove in and discovered:
a) prop had corroded.
b) prop shaft had pulled away from strut.
c) underside of strut holding shaft was gone.
How do I fix this? And worse, how much do you think it will cost?
Parts?
Does your boat stay in the water year round?
Lance : I agree with Mainsail, you probably have "stray voltage" OTA!!
Do you stay "plugged into shore power" all the time you're at the dock?
When was the last time you had the boat out of the water and examined the running gear?
I do keep her in year round and plugged in as we live aboard. I did a full inspection in Feb/Mar when she was transported here.
The actual strut look good down to where the shaft passes through it. At that point the bottom of the round piece is gone.
Could I cut the strut at that point and weld a new piece for the shaft there?
Lance, I've never heard of that, ever. The work will require removing the old one and installing a new one. Have you been hauled yet?
Shouldn't there be a lot of corrosion evidence on the prop or the shaft and the zinc?
The strut is isolated by the rubber in the bearing. It can't be a path for current unless it comes in contact with the shaft. Another way is the zinc moved and made contact with strut. Is put possible that the shaft wore through the bearing and then out the bottom of the strut?
First someone loses a rudder and now this. I'm getting worried!
The C36 site has some good links related to strut replacement. See http://www.c36ia.com/node/1385 for one.
It seems like there were two issues: Something causing corrosion and wrapping a line around the prop. How fast was the prop spinning when wrapped?
:shock: regardless of what ultimately caused your sad situation:
I disagree with Indian Fall's statement that the strut is protected from corrosion by the rubber cutlass bearing. It is bronze in salt water and stray current can and will eat away at it. You should "protect" it with its own dome zinc(s), bolted directly to the strut, in addition to having a shaft collar zinc.
It was an electrical issue. There was a battery cable that had grounded on the shaft. Came loose during the move. Will cost $90 per hour plus parts. Any leads on a good, used strut? Catalina Direct wants $670 ish for a new one. Will call Catalina parts in the morning.
Kyle, I edited your last post to make the link work. IIRC, the only way for non-C36IA Members (with a capital M) to read that link is to be full Members or Associate Members of the C36IA, much like our Tech Notes Online. Just an FYI to Lance if he tries and any parts or links don't work, some may work.
Back to your first question re how much: the cost are probably adding up, but a suggestion: I would replace the shaft (and its coupling) while doing all this. With the damage you reported, I wouldn't want to assume that the current shaft is fine: probably corroded, scored and maybe off true as well. Just order a new one from Catalina at the same time as the strut, cutless bearing and propellor (assume that you are replacijng the corroded propellor?). You will be paying for the haulout and related labor cost anyway. Cheaper to do it now than later. Just a thought...
It's a very interesting predicament. I'm sure the rest of the forum would love more information on what happened.
Was that a Positive cable that grounded on the shaft? If so why did you not have a fire or blown fuse?
If it was a negative cable then could your shore power charger have been able to leak current to or from the water causing the electrolysis to eat the strut, shaft, prop, prop-nut? The edges of the prop would look really bad before it got through the cutlass and the strut bearing housing right? I know you're busy with this disaster, but a pic or two of the damage may answer more questions than they would pose.
I wonder if the link for the used M25XPB engine(recently here on this forum) that was pulled from a C34 could lead to the used strut from that unfortunate boat the engine came from?
It was a +cable lead that came loose between pull and splash. It was from the dedicated starter battery and the terminal end was laying on the shaft right in front of the stuffing box. No idea why no fuse was blown. When the boat is out for repair, I will definitely share the images. The prop and strut are really eaten away. The shaft is not great; but, should easily last until bottom job next summer.
In the meantime, I have the strut arriving soon. Still looking for a used propeller. Catalina Yachts wants $743 for a 3 bladed prop and $600 for a 2 blade
I was talking with Catalina Yachts about a prop shaft and they needed the length. Are they all different?
Quote from: Lance Jones on May 24, 2014, 12:29:37 PM
I was talking with Catalina Yachts about a prop shaft and they needed the length. Are they all different?
Lance, from a simple search on :shaft length:
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1776.0.html (http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1776.0.html)
Thanks! Great article :thumb:!
Ok, in talking to Catalina Direct about a replacement shaft, he was very helpful. However, when asked about the 57" he wanted to know whether that was end to end or from the base of the shaft at the engine to the base of the prop. Picture included below.
Lance, I hope someone here knows and will share it with you. If not, have you considered calling Catalina Yachts?
Stu,
They were the first I called. However, she had no clue. She fobbed me off to Marine Parts who offered to make one for $650. I checked with Catalina Direct and they will make it and the coupling for less that $400. I just need to know the above measurement.
Lance, then call Gerry Douglas. If "she fobbed you off" then try, try again.
OK Stu, I took your advice and called Jerry. He said the length from end to end was 51 1/4". That sort of conflicts what others have said of theirs at 57".... I guess when I pull it, I can measure and hope they have a fast turn-around.
Hi Lance,
I have a 15x9 2 blade that you can have if you are interested. It has some paint and a few dings (hammer rash?) on the hub but functioned fine for me til I switched it out for a 3 blade. You can have it for the cost of shipping if you want.
Joe Holmes
Awesome John! :clap MUCH MUCH MUCH Thanks! Check your PM.
Well folks, the boat has finally been pulled for repair. A terrible summer with Kitty's Cat stuck at the dock. However, paradise is a great place to have to stay...... They pulled the shaft, coupler and prop today. Oh was it bad. Pics to come.
Shaft and coupler will be brought to a local marine fabricator who has been doing this type work for decades. He says a two day turn-around. The yard estimates a 12 hour (total work) time. So, in between pulling strut and replacing it, rebuilding the area, and allowing time for stuff to set up, maybe a week?
Once done, I'll be a regular contributor again. I just found it too hard to read all that was going on.
So glad for you both. All three of you... :abd:
Thanks Stu!
Here are some of the images I took this morning.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=775828542471571&id=137984386255993&comment_id=775878632466562&ref=notif¬if_t=feed_comment
Lance & Guys : Maybe a flexable coupling that electrically isolates the running gear - shaft, strut and prop from the boat/engine ..... is not that bad of an idea!!
A thought
Well, the yard is not progressing at all. Once the shaft and coupler were pulled, all activity stopped. Turns out their fiberglass guy only works on Friday!! However, I have a brand new shaft and coupler!!!!
In looking at the link provided to the C-36 page, how difficult would it be to do the fiberglass/filler work once the strut is replaced? I have contacted a contractor (Very reputable) who can grind down the area to get to the strut, pull it, replace it, and install the shaft w/alignment with the coupler. However, they don't do fiberglass repair.
Lance- Have you contacted your insurance company? Seems to me this is all subsequent damage to an accident (the wire popping off when it was moved). If the wire had caused a fire, wouldn't they cover the damage? How is this different? I'm no lawyer though...
Good idea; but, I never reported it to them and most of the "Evidence" has been removed. ;)
Well, she's back in the water! I want to thank y'all so much for all the support in this project. If it hadn't been for the info on this post, two boat yards would have cut the strut out from the inside. Also, tips on how/where to get parts was a huge help. Those who provided parts to me at little or no cost, I am eternally grateful. :lol: :appl
Here is the original strut. I outlined the original strut size.