Tuesday 5. First lift out this
morning everyone wanting to know why. I got stuck in removing the propeller
train. It wasn't looking in very good condition, but it never did, its always
been a bit of a bodge job. Kevin Gray came over to see and said you will have
to replace that lot you know, I know but I haven't really got the funds to do
it, well with a bit of dealing with
Kevin and his contacts I had arranged a new prop shaft, and a new clamp type
coupling during the day which should all be on site by Saturday morning. After
removing the shaft I found the inboard tube screws were completely loose,
pulled the tube back by hand, there was no packing around it.
The old propeller being English
taper will not fit the USA taper shaft
so have to order one from the States. The only one they had at 16 x 11 was a
left handed one at 1-1/8" which meant a rebore to 1-1/4" and for me
to change the transmission over to anticlockwise rotation for ahead. Lucky for
me the gearbox is a PRM hydraulic one and can run in both directions with no
problem.
Wednesday 6. there was also a
stopwater pouring out water when lifted, I removed it to see what was going on
there. It was made from a broom handle and that wood is not right as it does
not swell up. The sealing had gone and the water was travelling behind the
plank caulking, it was then getting to the stern tube and from there every
joint and plank seam on the aft end!
Thursday 7. The Stern tube was
done and cleaned out as was a new stop water fitted and sealed. (all day)
Friday 8. I sealed the stern tube
back in position today after cutting the new shaft to the correct length and
fitting it in temp. left it overnight to set solid. Have replaced the screws
with 4 x 4" 5/16" Lag bolts. aft bearing is being turned out to
1-1/4" to fit the shaft, and got it back today, I fitted the bearing
retainer with 3 bolts as a mod in case it should fall out. Friday night I
received the new propeller from USA Frank and Jimmy's via FedEx. so now I just
need a keyway cutting in the shaft at the engine end.
Saturday 9. Had a recommended
engineering firm take the shaft and cut a new keyway fit a key and the new
coupling on the shaft today. Then after getting it back finished at 12 noon,
spent the rest of the day doing a dry fit of the complete shaft, propeller and
coupling. 4pm after filling the shaft tube with grease I gave the engine a run
and put it in gear. All worked A1. will fit properly tomorrow.
Sunday 10. Spent all day taking
the shaft out and putting everything back together greased up and tightened
down. This included fitting the pulley drive on the shaft for my sailing hydro generator.
Spending the day upside down hanging over the engine sort of took it out of me
a bit, but again by about 4pm everything was back together, and I must say I
was very pleased with the resulting
very professional looking finished system, just hope it works as good as it
looks.
Monday 11. as this is the second
long holiday weekend here today is a holiday again. spent the day tidying up
the tools and putting everything back together. As the new propeller is a
Dynajet I am really looking forward to testing it tomorrow.
Tuesday 12. I was launched this
afternoon about 2pm, I ran the engine and did a test of engine in and out of
gear whilst alongside, all controls working AOK, have reduced the speed at
which the gears engage and made sure the engine wasn't going to stall when put
into gear. I was checking the bilges like a hawk every couple of minutes and
think I can say now the water leakage has been sorted. I then dropped the
mooring lines and went out for a trial run. Did many manoeuvres and a full speed
run, this propeller drives the boat along beautifully 7knts at full power, and
now 3.2knts with engine just ticking over, it never did that before. The last
test was something I would never have done before with the old setup and that
is a crash stop! so revved her up and when doing 7knts + ahead, threw her
straight into astern up to full power....GL stopped so quickly with the prop
churning up the water aft, Magic!
I now at last have my confidence
back in my boat!
