My prop fell off... f.ck f.ck f.ck.

[hoppy]

I had a hard sail in heavy winds today and got to an anchorage and it was blowing 30+ and even got to 42. First drop resulted in me being too close to another yacht, so I brought up the anchor and move. Second drop was fine and I was happy.

A couple of hours later I dived in to check the anchor set and as I was surfacing in the bubbles I could see something wrong, a bare prop shaft.

F.ck!!!!!!!

I went for a snorkel in the area I was swinging and spotted my flexofold laying in 10m

At the start of the seas I brought my dive gear to the boat and bought a tank, but had not used them. The sun just dropped below the hill, so in a mad rush I set up my gear for the first time in 6 years and jumped in.

I had some floating line and tied it around the prop and after first trying to surface with it, found it better to surface, fill the BCD and pull it up.




I thought about putting on my old prop, but I do not have the pin the goes along the shaft.

I am 5nm from the marina I was planning to go to. The anchorage I'm in is pretty open and the wind is and should remain off shore, so I could sail to the marina (Olympic Marina just outside of Athens), drop anchor just outside and get a tow in.

I'm also only an 8km drive, so maybe I can take a taxi there and pick up the pin there, but I really don't fee confident about fitting a prop for the first time if the wind is blowing the boat around.

Maybe I can get a diver from the marina to come to me with the pin.

Are the pins a standard size per prop shaft diameter?

To make things more challenging, I'm solo.

In the morning I will call the marina to see what help they can offer

Any suggestions???



f.ck f.ck f.ck.

[FamilyVan]

Lucky guy to find your prop!

Could you not jerry rig a pin just for the 5nm into the marina? You must have some cotter pins in your spares locker?



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[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Any suggestions???



f.ck f.ck f.ck.

Yes, buy a Lottery ticket, you are incredibly lucky, be happy not sad.
Sad is not finding your prop, or running into something very expensive when it falls off.

[a64pilot]

By pin, I think he may mean the key, if so I wouldn't jury rig something, you could damage the shaft.

On edit, if you are talking about the key, take the prop with you to get one to fit.
Now truthfully you could most likely do without the key entirely, just go slow, the key is supposed to be superfluous, but I've seen more than one sheared key too, on other things that have them, so I wouldn't do it, not when it's not required.

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by FamilyVan

Lucky guy to find your prop!

Could you not jerry rig a pin just for the 5nm into the marina? You must have some cotter pins in your spares locker?



Sent from my XP7700 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

I think he means the key for a keyway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_(engineering)

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by FamilyVan

Lucky guy to find your prop!

Could you not jerry rig a pin just for the 5nm into the marina? You must have some cotter pins in your spares locker?



Sent from my XP7700 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

It's the rectangle pin that runs along the shaft...

or do you mean jam them in?

[FamilyVan]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

By pin, I think he may mean the key, if so I wouldn't jury rig something, you could damage the shaft.

In that case I agree. Some prop hubs also have a pin to keep them from turning off, but I think you're right, its the key that is lost.

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[Training Wheels]

To install the prop in the water, flexofold sends you a set screw with a locking compound that works underwater. Locktite won't work underwater.


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[model 10]

You could make one from a piece of bolt probably 5/16. Use a file or some power tool and square it up. It does not need to be perfect as the taper holds the prop on not the key.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by hoppy

I had a hard sail in heavy winds today and got to an anchorage and it was blowing 30+ and even got to 42. First drop resulted in me being too close to another yacht, so I brought up the anchor and move. Second drop was fine and I was happy.

A couple of hours later I dived in to check the anchor set and as I was surfacing in the bubbles I could see something wrong, a bare prop shaft.

F.ck!!!!!!!

I went for a snorkel in the area I was swinging and spotted my flexofold laying in 10m

At the start of the seas I brought my dive gear to the boat and bought a tank, but had not used them. The sun just dropped below the hill, so in a mad rush I set up my gear for the first time in 6 years and jumped in.

I had some floating line and tied it around the prop and after first trying to surface with it, found it better to surface, fill the BCD and pull it up.

Attachment 107929


I thought about putting on my old prop, but I do not have the pin the goes along the shaft.

I am 5nm from the marina I was planning to go to. The anchorage I'm in is pretty open and the wind is and should remain off shore, so I could sail to the marina (Olympic Marina just outside of Athens), drop anchor just outside and get a tow in.

I'm also only an 8km drive, so maybe I can take a taxi there and pick up the pin there, but I really don't fee confident about fitting a prop for the first time if the wind is blowing the boat around.

Maybe I can get a diver from the marina to come to me with the pin.

Are the pins a standard size per prop shaft diameter?

To make things more challenging, I'm solo.

In the morning I will call the marina to see what help they can offer

Any suggestions???



f.ck f.ck f.ck.

Hoppy, if I swore I would be echoing your sentiments!

On the positive side you found your prop. It would have been an expensive loss.

A word of warning about approaching a marina and requesting a tow. In Greece this is sometimes viewed as a salvage operation and huge fees have been later demanded. The other thing that may occur following a tow is that the boat is deemed unfit and a surveyor needs to inspect the boat before you are free to leave, amounting to possibly several thousand euros.

If going into the marina is unavoidable, at least make sure all your communication with the marina is by mobile phone not VHF and try and actually sail into the marina if possible (been there, done that). Consider recruiting some help from a fellow cruiser and using your dinghy to push yourself in the last little bit under your own steam.

SWL

[hoppy]

Ahhh the "key", nice to know when I call them.

It looks like it will be similar wind conditions as today, so 20+ at times. Whilst it is good to know I won't get becalmed, I'm not sure how comfortable I'll feel sailing up to an unfamiliar anchorage by myself in those winds

[MarkSF]

I think the proper term is Woodruff key.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Hoppy, if you are able to fit the pin yourself underwater, one alternative is to order one online to be delivered to the island you are anchored off. You don't need an address. Just ask it to be couriered to "Courier Office, xxxxx Island, Greece" with the postcode and ask that your mobile phone number is included on the package. You don't need to specify the carrier. The courier office will tell you where they are when they ring and let you know your package has arrived.

I know this sounds hit and miss, but it is a system that works extremely well here.

SWL

[noelex 77]

Sorry to hear of your problems hoppy:

This looks like the correct fitting instructions for your prop. You probably have this, but I know it can be hard to research if your internet connection is poor:

http://www.flexofold.com/upload_dir/...t-2_0_2013.pdf

[noelex 77]

As I understand it squeezing the prop against the tapered shaft is the mechanism that prevents the prop slipping. The key is (mostly) a back up.

Thus the key is not critical. Aluminium is easy to cut with hand tools. Can you cut a suitable key from a scrap piece of aluminium. If it was slightly undersized I don't think this would cause a problem short term.

You could put on your old prop with a tempory key and it should work fine.

If you do this keep the revs low.