That didn't go as planned

[brookiesailor]

SOOO...the long awaited launch day Friday.
I had to work all day. They called me in the afternoon to tell me she was in the water and what slip she was in. I was expecting and incredibly long drive as one exit on the interstate was closed both ways It did not disappoint we got there just as the sun was setting....

Next morning got up early and decided that we were going to get it all ready and leave Sunday having checked everything out. Went to start the engine....no cooling water, start tearing things out...impeller looks good, cleaned the filter, down to the through hull...no water coming in now it is three o'clock call the yard and they send someone over and as the whole thing is apart down the the through hull we try to snake out whatever seems to be jammed in there with no luck.. They pull the boat out of the water and with a screw driver and a pair of pliers remove a large rag that someone had stuffed in there to make sure nothing got in there...good new, it worked! Dropped the boat back in the water. Hooked it all back up and started the engine right up.. perfect.

This morning we got up early, were the first ones at the fuel dock. as we had only been driving the boat for five minutes I hope someone got video as it was hillrious. we were never in danger of hitting the dock and that was the problem, the current was ripping so bad we couldn't get close enough to throw a line. Finally got there but our course on the chart plotter was hillarious. Fueled up, pumped out. did one final check and at 8:15 set out on our way. at 8:30 we had cleared the channel and at 8:45 having cleared the second point I sent hubby below to grab me a jacket and that is when it gets fun.

He screamed to stop the engine...I did. We had water over the floor boards. we had turned the automatic bilge pump off because the had crud in the bilge, flicked that on. I went up and called the marina that we were coming back. We were able to ascertain that it wasn't the intake to the engine that we had put back together . so we started the engine again and hightailed it back. The marina staff sent a boat that met us at the breakwater and escorted us in right to the lift.

then the prop got wrapped up in the plastic of the lift and they couldn't free it. bent...

So started the weekend in the water, ended the weekend back in the saddle...

[Tayana42]

Ouch!!!

[JPA Cate]

Sorry about the prop. Also, better check the shaft wasn't bent. Maybe the marina's insurance will help cover the costs.

Ann

[Jim Cate]

Brookie, you guys sure know how to have a good time!

Did you ever find what the source of the flooding was?

Hope the next time is more fun. You deserve some fun by now!

Jim

[boatman61]

Bumma Brookie.. but, looking on the bright side you had not gone to far.
Hope its just a loose hose clamp.. next launch check every through hull and hose.
Keep smiling guys..

[brookiesailor]

we are guessing the stuffing box. The shaft is heka-bent. If the stuffing box wasn't the issue before it certainly is now. it was flooding in. We drained it on the sling and then put it back in to turn it around, as they knew they had to pull it for the shaft now anyway, and when they dropped it in the water was flooding in the stuffing box area which now had been shifted an inch forward...

These pictures might be upside down I still haven't figured out how to fix it...

The consolation prize was seeing Ticonderoga

[brookiesailor]

I have to say though, the marina staff was excellent (prop aside) they were attentive and a great help. They wondered why we were so nice and even commented to the fact. I guess all those years in Angola mellowed us. "you can only chose your attitude" was a motto that we had to live by.

The attached picture is of me while we are hanging in the sling. Smile...we made it back, all repairs are repairable....

[zeehag]

dog guys you know how to party. glad all is welland boat and you survived.

[chris mac]

A terrible, and frustrating experience. Thanks for sharing it with us. The good news is you are keeping a great attitude. The great news... you are building and telling stories of when you first got your own cruising sail boat. Stories like these will end up being the currency you use at Anchorages and marina bars keep up the good fight

[letsgetsailing3]

Thanks for sharing.


I guess I learned some things that'll be on my checklist during a launch after getting some extended yard work done.

[captmick39]

Uhm,
YES, that IS a terribly bent shaft, & the stuffing box is surely toast, probably along w/the bearing in Your strut.
If I was reading that right, they ran the sling UNDER Your prop shaft & that's a Totally ROOKIE Mistake on the part of the rigger/travel lift operator. Hopefully You have PICTURES of that, as they won't like 'eating the costs of this 1, however it's UGLY.



You should also have a marine mechanic verify the repairs and confirm that the coupler at back of transmission is ok, as well as checking alignment of shaft, strut, bearing(s) and stuffing box once all are replaced/reinstalled. They should have charged NOTHING to retrieve the "RAG" left in place by their(?) worker, but yep, that shaft & all it touches/travels through, Probably (or Desperately) need replaced.


Look on the bright side; back in '93 we sold a 37' ketch to a US Coastguardsman who knew 'everything', after our mechanic informed him directly, that the coupler MUST be re-tightened (new shaft, stuffing box, strut bearing & engine/tranny rebuild), about EVERY 50 Miles for the nxt. 250-500, until it would be absolutely solid) & since he knew "Everything", You can just imagine what happened. He was pulling in to a slip in Clearwater (they musta had a gr8 bar on the waterfront), threw it in reverse & out came the shaft, prop, zincs, & suddenly there was a new 'thru-hull' where approx. 250 gpm were entering the engine compartment, along w/his 1st concern being that concrete bulkhead directly ahead that he was traveling WAY TOO FAST for....


Afterward he tried to SUE us, which everyone including our mechanic (& most importantly.....the Judge!) thought was HILARIOUS. He didn't sink, but he DID do abt. $7.5k in damages (even back then) & thankfully others at adjacent slips had plugs, skills & knew what had happened just by the SOUND (Before the "Crunch" w/the concrete) & Listening! Our subpoenaed witnesses were obtained from his bills presented to the court (aka ''discovery") fm. the repair personnel. LESSON?
When a seller's MECHANIC tells You something You should regularly do, for the next several hundred NM, You should LISTEN. "Knowing EVERYTHING" can be a very expensive lesson, when You actually don't.


Seen a lot of bent prop shafts in this lifetime (living in Florida, on the water) but Your pics above EASILY are in the top 10, probably top 5. W/that kind of vibration, I'd have Your mechanic check out the tranny closely too; Hopefully it wasn't run (AT ALL) looking as it does in the picture (other than in NEUTRAL)?
"Patience, Grasshopper"(I tell our adult children & Wife already), You seem to have an Abundance of it & Your consolation kudos are that:
A-You Didn't SINK, and
B-That's 1 Beautiful Vessel!
Keep that undaunted spirit, it's priceless in marinas and just being a boat owner!


Most Respectfully,
-Mick
PS: Great Looking Bottom job!

[boatman61]

1st time I have seen a picture of your boat.. She is gorgeous..

[brookiesailor]

Thanks boaty

[Jaqun]

I've had those days (usually at the start of a longer trip). Great attitude! A good portion of sailing is rolling with the punches. Good Luck! (beautiful boat BTW)

[letsgetsailing3]

Remind us. What kind of boat is that again? She's a beauty. And bottom looks great.