Grounding, Not Good

[pepmyster]

Glad to see that this mishap will end sooner than later!!!!!

[km1125]

Shafts shouldn't be a big deal to make. The stock is available in all the popular diameters, they just need to cut to length, taper and cut the keyway and threads.

The struts are a whole 'nuther story. I'd like to know if the manufacturers try at all to use standard units or if they are all custom made. It seems like there is such a variety of deadrise angles, shaft diameters and shaft angles that nearly every one is custom in some way, and you have to cast the parts then do the machining for the bolt holes and the cutlass bearing. Could see that casting taking a while as either someone had to make a mold or get one from somewhere.

[Midnightsun]

I have 2 solutions for the struts. The manufacturer has 1 in stock and the other is bent sligthly in a way which apparently can be repaired. Option 2 with todays NC machines is they make 2 brand new ones from a solid chunk of stainless.

The third option is to wait out for them to cast a new unit which is 10 weeks or more so not really wanting to go that route.

[RGrew176]

If you are only out of the water for a short time that is good news. Hope no further damages are found.

[tonyiiiafl]

Just saw this and my condolences. I was in a channel that was marked as passable 2 years ago and hit a boulder that was not marked. Hope all ends well and soon!

[Viper]

Source of the post .... Option 2 with todays NC machines is they make 2 brand new ones from a solid chunk of stainless.....

I wouldn't go with stainless. In some conditions it can pit severely in areas you can't see, to a point where structural integrity can be compromised. I can see that happening on the surfaces that mate with the hull and in the bore between it and the strut bearing. The little pinholes you'd see on the surface are only the tip of the iceberg while larger cavities develop under the pinholes.

[Midnightsun]

No worries, just placed the order for 1 loaded strut, 3 cutlass bearings, 2 couplings complete with nuts and keyways. The second less damaged strut will be repaired which is basically bent back straight. The shafts are going to be manufactured locally with about a week or less turn around and the props are also ordered locally.

Now the bad part, the floor of the lowest rear section needs to come out, no biggie since it is screwed down but do need some kind of lift truck to lift it out as that has to weigh several hundred pounds. The aux gas tanks need to come out to get to the nuts of the struts! Would have been so much simpler if access to those nuts was easy.

[bud37]

Source of the post No worries, just placed the order for 1 loaded strut, 3 cutlass bearings, 2 couplings complete with nuts and keyways. The second less damaged strut will be repaired which is basically bent back straight. The shafts are going to be manufactured locally with about a week or less turn around and the props are also ordered locally.

Now the bad part, the floor of the lowest rear section needs to come out, no biggie since it is screwed down but do need some kind of lift truck to lift it out as that has to weigh several hundred pounds. The aux gas tanks need to come out to get to the nuts of the struts! Would have been so much simpler if access to those nuts was easy.

I know your guy doesn't think so....but my suggestion before you go much further would be to get a least two more sets of keel blocks under there to support things before they go about removing stuff....just to make us happy...

I know for one its freakin me out....

[RGrew176]

To bad that those who design boats do not have to work on them.

[Midnightsun]

UPDATE: The slightly bent strut is not repairable however they were able to find a new/old stock OEM strut so I now have 2 new OEM struts. The shafts are being machined in Orillia, Ont at United propeller where they will fit the couplings and new props as the old ones cannot be repaired. Only 2 more boatless weeks if things go as planned.