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Old 09-12-2018, 10:26   #1
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Working on sail drives without haulout?

I need to remove sea growth around my saildrive legs, in the sail drive pockets, and install sail drive gaskets around each saildrive leg on the hull exterior. I'd also like to replace the anodes. Are all these things I can do myself while the boat is in the water?
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Old 10-12-2018, 05:30   #2
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

I'm assuming you have scuba or hookah gear? Cleaning the legs are not a problem and should be done regularly anyway as crud quickly gets in the water intake holes. You can fit the seal in the water if you are replacing a similar sized one but if the bottom has anti-fouling on it, you wont be able to affix the seal until you have sanded it. As far as changing the anodes under water, I recommend getting the split anodes for your sail drive. Once you have set these up, changing the anodes under water takes 10 mins as you don't have to remove the prop. If you don't already have these, changing them underwater becomes a PITA.
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Old 12-12-2018, 18:43   #3
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

TD, if your saildrives are like mine, you'll have two sets of zincs per drive: one split in half around the front part of the drive and three separate "ring" zincs around the shaft just aft of the hub. The split zinc uses an allen wrench of one size and the ring zincs another. Taking those below the surface, holding your breath while loosening, removing, replacing and tightening again gets old and is difficult while just using a small allen wrench.

I took a 1" piece of PVC and drilled two holes through it, inserted the larger allen wrench through one set of holes and the smaller through the other, facing the opposite direction - zip tied both in place and now I have a dedicated "zinc" tool that has a better grip, better torque and is easy to spot if I do drop it while down there.

Hope this helps,

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Old 12-12-2018, 19:07   #4
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

You can do all the above underwater except: The seal (fairing skirt) is glued to the hull, so that would be a challenge. To stick for more than a season or so, requires good surface prep and a good coating on both pieces (hull & skirt) of an appropiate adhesive.
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Old 12-12-2018, 19:40   #5
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

I saw a Cat owner with two big inflation bags to put under the stern and fill using a Scuba tank. Can lift the rear end high enough to work on the saildrives.
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Old 12-12-2018, 21:24   #6
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

I thought that you could beach cats to work on such things. Is this not so? a few old tires stacked carefully should raise the sterns enough to accomplish the seal gluing if the process is indeed feasible.

Not being an experienced multihuller, I don't know how practical such things really are. They always sound so good in the shiny paper brochures!

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Old 12-12-2018, 22:45   #7
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul L View Post
I saw a Cat owner with two big inflation bags to put under the stern and fill using a Scuba tank. Can lift the rear end high enough to work on the saildrives.
Lift bags are a slick solution for quick maintenace. Some charter companies use them. Dont know the cost.

https://www.buitink-technology.com/u...ag-catamaran/#
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Old 12-12-2018, 22:57   #8
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

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Originally Posted by belizesailor View Post
Lift bags are a slick solution for quick maintenace. Some charter companies use them. Dont know the cost.

https://www.buitink-technology.com/u...ag-catamaran/#
I saw them in use during the rescue of a holed Cat, so they have multiple potential uses.
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Old 13-12-2018, 04:17   #9
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Re: Working on sail drives without haulout?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate View Post
I thought that you could beach cats to work on such things. Is this not so? a few old tires stacked carefully should raise the sterns enough to accomplish the seal gluing if the process is indeed feasible.

Not being an experienced multihuller, I don't know how practical such things really are. They always sound so good in the shiny paper brochures!

Jim
Sure you can for most cats...just need a good careening beach in an area with enough tidal height variance.
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