Just got an email from John Bailey:
Segel was hauled yesterday to have the bottom cleaned and do the annual replacement of zincs on the prop shaft and keel. While motoring over to Zahnisers I noticed the speed was only about 5 knots rather than the normal 6 at 2600 rpm. I assumed it was bottom fouling. On hauling Segel [see photo - click to enlarge] the explanation was found--crabpot line on the prop. That was easily removed. More serious was the bent bronze strut for propeller shaft. It was bent enough to the port that the shaft was dragging on the bronze strut hole and not centered in the cutlass bearing.
Big decision: try to bend it back into position with risk of breaking it off and boat being out of service for 3 weeks or letting it go until winter with resultant wear on bearing, shaft log packing, and transmission. I gambled and by use of a huge pipe wrench the Zahnisers crew were able to bend it back into alignment. There is no way to know how long it has been bent except that it happened since the spring of 2004.
The message to all of us--that includes me also--is to give crabpot floats a wide berth. I personally snagged one last year and had to have TowBoatUS dive to remove it.
On second thought, I'm glad I own a small day-sailor with a four horsepower outboard.
- Your Captain.
1 comment:
thatsucksdidn'tdoit.
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