Shaft Project, Days 4-5

Fort Pierce, FL
27 27.94 N 080 19.69 W

Well, we aren't going to be ready after a week, but we're closing in on it.

• The propeller shaft has been straightened. (Was that the cause of the problem? Possibly yes, but not conclusive.)
• The Max Prop propeller has been cleaned, polished, and checked for balance.
• The shaft log opening has been re-glassed with Marine Tex.
• New log-stuffing box hose and new hose clamps.
• Repacked the stuffing box.
• New shaft coupler, new drive saver flexible coupling, and 4 new engine mounts in hand and waiting to be installed.
• As soon as I get a mechanic to help install the mounts and do final alignment, and when I reinstall the propeller, we're done.

My new target is Wednesday.

By the way, after two readers provided considerable information on using a fiberglass shaft tube instead of the bronze shaft log, I seriously considered it. I finally decided it won't work. The problem is that with a shaft tube I could never remove the shaft, and maybe never the cutlass bearing.

I can't remove the shaft aftward. It hits the rudder, even with the rudder fully deflected. I can't remove it forward with the log installed, it hits the engine. The only way I can remove it is to first take the log off, and then angle the shaft out forward through the wide hole. If I had a fiberglass shaft tube, it would have to be cut off to remove the shaft. Also, without an extension to the shaft tube, where would the set screws go that hold the cutlass bearing in. Sorry, the tube won't work.

Opening with log removed

Shaft Log

Below: How often have you seen people post proud pictures of their toilet on their blog? I admit it's unusual, but it was so much work to completely renovate that Skipper head that I couldn't resist the picture before reinstalling it.