Disaster averted!

[Tree]

Ran over something on Friday night in the dark - not sure yet as it’s too windy to pull the boat on the hoist.

As a result, 5 knot cruise back to port with vibration on the shaft/prop.

Got back to the berth and went to reverse in - bang bang bang. Prop shaft pulled out from the coupling by around 6” so not sure if the prop has hit the skeg or if it’s the prop nut hitting the rudder? Thankfully the deep sea seal isnt compromised and the bilge is still dry.

2020 just keeps getting better!

Friday before the weather settles and she can be hauled to find what delights are around the prop!

[DCatSea]

Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the out-of-water diagnostic, and nothing too serious found. Roll on 2021.

[RobS]

Oh boy. Don't let that shaft slide out the bottom!

[Tree]

Oh boy. Don't let that shaft slide out the bottom!

She’s not going anywhere. Thankfully the shaft can’t slip back any more than it has and if it could, the seal carrier for the deep sea seal spare lipseal will hold it in place. Just frustrating that the winds are around 50mph at the moment and the boat isn’t on her normal berth. Had to use some pretty sharp bow thruster skills to berth her parallel and what wind we had to drift her in place late Friday night.

[DCatSea]

Sounds like nice piece of boat handling.

[Norseman]

Wow, close call...

My boat, before I bought it, had a similar situation:
The prop and shaft left the boat while underway and went to the bottom of the ocean.
Previous owner managed to stop the water intrusion, got a tow to the yard and had a new shaft, stuffing box and prop installed, about 2-3 years before I bought the boat. (Purchased it October 4th, 2017)
Previous owner said he had no idea why this happened.

[Tree]

Found the problem. So far - bullet dodged!

[briantmanzi]

looks like the best possibility of outcomes

[Norseman]

. Found the problem

What was the problem, or rather, what caused it?

[Tree]

. Found the problem

What was the problem, or rather, what caused it?

Pulled an abandoned lobster pot line up on the anchor in the dark. I guess it ran down the underside of the boat in the tide and up round the stern gear. All in all there was around 250’ of it

[Norseman]

. Found the problem

What was the problem, or rather, what caused it?

Pulled an abandoned lobster pot line up on the anchor in the dark. I guess it ran down the underside of the boat in the tide and up round the stern gear. All in all there was around 250’ of it

Ouch, no lobster included I guess.?

No damage back there..?

[Tree]

Walked away from it apparently! Coupling has a tiny bit of damage where the shaft pulled out so I’m just about to head to my workshop and polish the bore and dress the key way up. So far that’s all I can see. Despite the 10 mile trip home like it - I was able to just untwist the rope off - no binding in any of it.

[coolchange]

250 feet of "free" line...that's a plus

and...I have had 2 line tangles in my life..neither was obvious at first blush but they can stop an engine..or ruin a trip..lucky you to get home safe and sound

[Tree]

Haha. I wouldn’t use this line, it’s aged pot line with lead in it. Took the boat for a run earlier and I’ve got some slight vibration at around 19 knots. I did have a small amount of play in the cutlass bearing and the prop had kissed the skeg but it’s that time of year you got to be at sea!! I’ll nurse her through till early spring and keep the revs down and then I’ll get the prop dressed and balanced, new cutlass bearing, check engine alignment and probably renew the cutlass housing as that’s getting a bit tired.

In the mean time, there is cod to be caught!

[whwells]

Best to to you. Hope you have minimal damages. Happy for your safe return.
Howard