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20-10-2019, 11:00
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 22
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Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Well I was motoring slowly out of the harbor when all of a sudden I had no propulsion. Was lucky enough to coast to an anchorage and drop anchor. Dove the boat and found the shaft to be completely bare! My issue is, I really liked the flexofold and now I wonder is there a design flaw? Bad installation? Attempted theft maybe? I feel like the installation must have been done right because we just sailed from Seattle to Newport Beach California right after install and motored probably half the way. I would think this would’ve happened sooner? Has anyone ever heard of this with a flexofold? Doesn’t seem possible to lose all of it at once considering how it is put together. Opinions? Advise?
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20-10-2019, 11:10
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,007
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Did this fall off a saildrive per chance?
For reasons I have never really been able to figure out that is WAY more common than is should be. I worked for a charter company and we lost THREE from one catamaran in a year before we just said screw it, and went to fixed props.
I KNOW that they were put together right and have no good explanation for why this combination of gear is so susceptible to failure.
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20-10-2019, 11:13
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 22
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by billknny
Did this fall off a saildrive per chance?
For reasons I have never really been able to figure out that is WAY more common than is should be. I worked for a charter company and we lost THREE from one catamaran in a year before we just said screw it, and went to fixed props.
I KNOW that they were put together right and have no good explanation for why this combination of gear is so susceptible to failure.
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No not a saildrive just a regular outboard shaft.
I don’t see how all of it can go at once. With the way they are put together on the shaft, you’d think the hub would still be there at least
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20-10-2019, 11:15
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#4
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Well I seriously doubt it was a prop design problem (mine has has been for years). It most certainly was an installation problem.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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20-10-2019, 11:18
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 22
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
Well I seriously doubt it was a prop design problem (mine has has been for years). It most certainly was an installation problem.
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I’ve motored a thousand miles since installation in the last two months, would this have not happened sooner if it was an installation problem? Maybe it just held on long enough I guess. Haven’t used reverse much in that whole stretch
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20-10-2019, 11:22
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#6
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
If not a faulty installation what is your theory? That just cracked in half and fell off including the nut?
It wasnt fit properly on the shaft and worked off the shaft turning the shaft nt slowly till it fell off.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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20-10-2019, 11:30
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bermuda
Boat: Heritage West Indies 36
Posts: 1,016
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Could it be the loctite used on the bolts? Did you perhaps use the 'above water' loctite and then launch immediately, before it had a chance to set? Just throwing and idea out there. Have never had any problems with ours and love it.
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20-10-2019, 11:41
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 22
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe
Could it be the loctite used on the bolts? Did you perhaps use the 'above water' loctite and then launch immediately, before it had a chance to set? Just throwing and idea out there. Have never had any problems with ours and love it.
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I had a diver put this on. He used the underwater water locktite. He’s a very respected diver in Seattle known for doing prop work. I’m thinking he had to have done something wrong though but now weary of buying another flexofold because I’m unsure of the cause
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20-10-2019, 11:43
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: On Vessel WINGS, wherever there's an ocean, currently in Mexico
Boat: Serendipity 43
Posts: 5,508
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifeonalean
Well I was motoring slowly out of the harbor when all of a sudden I had no propulsion. Was lucky enough to coast to an anchorage and drop anchor. Dove the boat and found the shaft to be completely bare! My issue is, I really liked the flexofold and now I wonder is there a design flaw? Bad installation? Attempted theft maybe? I feel like the installation must have been done right because we just sailed from Seattle to Newport Beach California right after install and motored probably half the way. I would think this would’ve happened sooner? Has anyone ever heard of this with a flexofold? Doesn’t seem possible to lose all of it at once considering how it is put together. Opinions? Advise?
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There was a guy in Trinidad in 2012 giving away two flexfolds from his catamaran after one fell off (he FOUND IT!) I got them and gave them to my friend but they were right hand vs left had which he needed, or something, and he didn't use them.
__________________
These lines upon my face tell you the story of who I am but these stories don't mean anything
when you've got no one to tell them to Fred Roswold Wings https://wingssail.blogspot.com/
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20-10-2019, 11:44
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
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20-10-2019, 12:02
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Boat: Swallowed the anchor
Posts: 974
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Not disparaging the diver who installed the prop but if it was a new prop and it wasn't properly mated to the shaft taper it wasn't installed properly. Many believe it's the prop nuts that hold the prop onto the shaft but it's actually the interference fit of the taper that holds it in place. If you don't think that's the case try taking a prop off without a puller.
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20-10-2019, 12:25
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,400
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Hi, lifeonalean,
Sorry about your losing the prop. Jim and I were talking about it, because one always wonders if one will have that lost prop feeling one's own self....Ours has been om since 2003.
When you install the new prop, do it on the hard. It will be easier to tell if it is properly bedded to the shaft. Sometimes, people even bed them to the shaft with fine lapping compound. It is not something to do with Flex-o-fold. I've known three blade fixed props to be thrown, too.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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20-10-2019, 13:01
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Thailand
Boat: Herreshoff Caribbean 50
Posts: 1,095
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
What kind of manufacturer recommends glue for your prop nut ???? Whatever happened to left hand thread and split pins ?
__________________
Steve .. It was the last one that did this !
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20-10-2019, 13:18
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 461
Posts: 22
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPA Cate
Hi, lifeonalean,
Sorry about your losing the prop. Jim and I were talking about it, because one always wonders if one will have that lost prop feeling one's own self....Ours has been om since 2003.
When you install the new prop, do it on the hard. It will be easier to tell if it is properly bedded to the shaft. Sometimes, people even bed them to the shaft with fine lapping compound. It is not something to do with Flex-o-fold. I've known three blade fixed props to be thrown, too.
Ann
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Thanks for the advice, I think I’ve learned my lesson. Will do prop changes out of the water from now on. Currently stranded in an anchorage in an unfamiliar harbor on a weekend where no yards are open haha. At least it didn’t happen at sea!
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20-10-2019, 16:37
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#15
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Hull Diver
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Under a boat, in a marina, in the San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,427
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Re: Flexofold prop FELL OFF!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emmalina
What kind of manufacturer recommends glue for your prop nut ???? Whatever happened to left hand thread and split pins ?
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Loctite is not "glue" and a folding prop like the Flex-O-Fold does not mount with standard prop nuts and a cotter pin.
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