24 42.40 081 N 05.68 W
I know a lot of blog readers are waiting for the verdict on our new prop. It's installed! Vibrations gone! After living with these vibrations for 7 years, it is a major relief to have it fixed.
Boatyards in the keys are expensive. One yard 6 miles East of here would haul me for $384 plus $50 for blocking. Then I could stay and work for $40/day. However, we want to repaint the bottom up on the Neuse river this spring. Marathon Boat Yard right in Boot Key Harbor quoted me $250/hour for a quick in/out. WOW! However, if I could do it in 1 hour it was cheaper. That's what I did, and we did finish in 1 hour to the minute.
I disassembled the Maxprop. The last piece is the hub that's pressed on the shaft. I couldn't get it off. My gear puller wouldn't pull it. Once before I had to use an acetylene torch to sweat it off. I had to ask the boatyard for help. They considered and rejected using a hydraulic puller. Then a beefy yard guy came with a 2" steel shaft and a 6 pound hammer. WHANG and it popped off.
When I paid, the boatyard owner asked if I used help. I said, "Yes. 10 minutes." He said their minimum labor was 1 hour at $100 per. He charged me only 1/2 hour. That WHANG cost me $50. But when you're up on the sling like that, you're at their mercy and in no position to negotiate. I could have tried harder to get it off myself, or tried to argue with, but at $250/hour I was in a very big hurry.
Afterward, we went out for a test spin. Vibrations, gone!!! However, my max RPM is 2600, it should be 3000. I'll have to have the new prop repitched. Also, I was not able to slide the prop up on the taper enough for the conical prop nut to go on all the way. I have no safety pin at the moment. That makes my very nervous. I'm not quite sure at the moment what to do about it.
Good to hear the vibration is gone. It looks in the photo that you may have enough thread exposed to drill a new hole for a cotter pin.
ReplyDeleteGood luck,
Loren