Bent strut and bent prop shaft $$?

[Albicelesail]

Back in May '16, I fowled my prop. BoatUs towed and then freed the prop. The diver didn't see anything to worry about. The only thing I noticed was a high pitch squeel at low RPM but operated fine. Well I received a preliminary assessment from the boat yard today. The prop shaft strut is bent beyond repair and would need to be replaced. This same is true for the prop shaft. From what they tell me the strut is glassed into the boat, and this would would make the job expensive. The inital estimate for this repair is $4k to $5k. I planned to sail this boat for another 5 years. This is very concerning for my '86 Beneteau First 305. Anyone have an insight on this type of scenario?

[skipmac]

The strut looks like bronze as far as I can tell from a photo. Bronze can be fixed. Not sure if it could be fixed in place but I have read several reports of straightening bronze struts.

The shaft probably not but if you DIY shouldn't be that much.

[CarlF]

Do you have a lot of experience with this boat yard? The estimate feels high and worse, like they may not know what they're doing.

First, is that strut twisted or bent to the side? It just seems cocked forward rather than bent. This might just mean adjusting/repairing the mount. Struts are almost always bolted and faired with putty since you need to adjust them during shaft alignment.

Since you ran the engine with the strut out of line, you have most likely damaged your rubber cutlass bearing (that was probably the squeal) but they aren't expensive. There's a good chance it needed replacing before the accident.

The shaft could be pulled and sent to a specialist who can put it on a special table to check if it's straight (and take out any minor bends). It might come back better than new since production boat shafts often aren't checked carefully at the factory. If it can't be straightened, they can use the old one as a pattern to make up a new one. A short, small diameter shaft like yours isn't expensive.

Finally, it may not be too late to make an insurance claim. This sort of thing is often covered. Worth a try.

[Albicelesail]

I have stored my boat there for the last 4 seasons there. They completed engine maintance at a reasonable rate. They told me the strut is bent forward and to starboard. I'll have to see if its bolted on.

[groundtackle]

carlf, not sure how you came to the conclusion about the yard. That estimate is a good high guess. Tells me they have been down this road before and need to make sure the owner is prepared to fix this properly. There are unknowns until it comes apart, could be less.
ce

[Paul L]

Does Benetau have replacement struts available?

[CarlF]

Groundtackle - so we both agree the price seems high. You think "good high". If this only takes adjusting the strut, replacing the cutlass bearing, and aligning the shaft then it seems just plain "high" to me.

That's why I asked about his experience with the boatyard.

We know nothing about the boat yard's skill or experience with drivetrain repairs. But in my experience a lot of boatyards can even screw up a simple alignment.

It's good news that the OP is a long term customer as the boat yard will be interested in his future business and hopefully not take advantage of him. He's also been pleased in the past -- which is encouraging.

At a minimum, the OP should have the yard manager spend 10 minutes with him at the boat pointing out exactly what's damaged and how they intend to fix it.

[JPA Cate]

How accessible are the bolts to the strut? How much boat has to be taken apart, or cut into, to get at the interior for fixing the problems? How many hours estimated by the yard?

Be careful, mate, this could be hyper expensive.

Ann

[Suijin]

That estimate is fair and entirely, given that it's an estimate. A new shaft alone, from a machinist, is going to be @ $500-800, depending on length, diameter, and the machining. Prop needs to come off, shaft pulled, cutlass bearing pulled and replaced, new or straightened strut, reassemble and realign. Should probably replace the seal bellows while you're at it, since they should be replaced every 7 years anyway. You'll probably want a new shaft coupling while you're at it to ensure good alignment.

Having the strut straightened is probably going to be more expensive than a new one since it's a Bene part. Straightening is a bit trail and error to get the alignment right and by the time you're done it would have been cheaper to just buy a new one. But as pointed out, you might be able to get away with just rebedding it; pull it, grind out the mount, grease up the strut and rebed in epoxy and align, drill new bolt holes, pull it, and then rebed with 5200. Feasibility of this is dependent on how the strut is attached, but it's probably doable.

Reinstall everything, realign engine. Clean up the rebedded strut area (fairing, barrier coat, bottom paint).

All this takes time. Easily 20-30 hours of work if it all goes well, more if it turns out more complicated for any reason, which it probably will. If you're not a mechanic or you've never aligned running gear I would suggest you leave it to a mechanic as the tolerances are fairly small and you'll need the right equipment to check your work and know how to use it. You could do it yourself, but if you get everything back in place and it's off by too many hundredths of an inch you'd have to pull the strut and rebed again.

Oh, and don't forget the line cutter this time. That's another $300 or so.

[sony2000]

Beneteau have shafts in millimeters, so used parts are not easy to get. Now could be the time to switch to English measure and used parts. The prop would have to be switched or a shim may be needed.
In theory, put a new shaft through the old cutlass bearing, heat up the strut with a good torch and twist it back into place with the shaft. It is only bronze. Then change the cutlass.
The excuse may be the job (alignment) may not be perfect. Just accept that risk, and change the cutlass bearing more frequently if needed.
Avoid buying a new strut, and all the glassing labor needed.

[svHyLyte]

Beneteau has quite specific instructions and dimensions for replacing the "P-Bracket" (shaft strut) in the First series boats. It is not particularly difficult but it can be a bit time consuming. If you contact Ward Richardson at Beneteau Customer Service (843-629-5300) he can give you the information you need. (I will try to attach the PDF but if that doesn't work, if you PM me with your email address I will forward the file to you directly.) The shaft in that boat is, I believe, 30mm. From the look of it, there isn't much of a "bend" and, if so, a good machine shop can straighten it without much difficulty. If not, Beneteau can provide a replacement shaft, usually at a cost that is less than what's typically charged by a "Prop Shop". All up, unless your boat yard is taking your pants off, I think you're looking at less than $2,000 worth of work, if that much.

FWIW there have been other threads dealing with "P-Bracket" repair/replacement. Use the search function, above, of prevail upon Gordon May, the CF search guru, to assist you.

FWIW...

[Tetepare]

I'd get a new shaft.

Most machine shops are not in the business of straightening bend solid stainless, and the results may be less than satisfactory, and may be temporary. Friends have had shafts straightened and I can't recall one that was happy with the outcome.

Obtaining a 30mm shaft shouldn't be difficult. It's just SS stock and can be easily turned down.

Check the coupler & keyway to see if there is damage.

Everything else has already been said. Replace cutlass bearing and stuffing anyway. Strut SHOULD be bolted with 4 bolts- I can't imagine a strut just glassed in, even if it is just a guide. That will take some work. Looking at your photo it implies the strut attachment is in there somewhere, but I don't see bolts. In any event, it's better than my boat in which the fuel tank is glassed in over the bolts.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by sony2000

In theory, put a new shaft through the old cutlass bearing, heat up the strut with a good torch and twist it back into place with the shaft. It is only bronze. Then change the cutlass.

Not gonna work. There's no way you'd get the alignment even close to an acceptable degree of tolerance doing that, IMO.

Originally Posted by sony2000

The excuse may be the job (alignment) may not be perfect. Just accept that risk, and change the cutlass bearing more frequently if needed.
Avoid buying a new strut, and all the glassing labor needed.

And accept the risk of destroying your transmission as well? Not a great solution. If the only issue were premature cutlass bearing wear and some squeaking at low RPM's, he could probably live with the issue. But there is more to it than that.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I'd get a new shaft.

Most machine shops are not in the business of straightening bend solid stainless, and the results may be less than satisfactory, and may be temporary. Friends have had shafts straightened and I can't recall one that was happy with the outcome.

It's potentially cheaper to buy a new one. It used to be that material was expensive and labor was cheap, now it's the other way around. You can ask a machinist to straighten it, but better to ask them "Should I go with a new one or get the old one straightened" and 9 out of 10 will say new, and not because it's more money in their pocket.

Personally, I would have a machine shop make one over just buying the part from Beneteau. The reason is that the machine shop will mount the coupling and face it, ensuring a perfectly perpendicular fit, which in turn ensures an easier time with alignment.

[Albicelesail]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Beneteau has quite specific instructions and dimensions for replacing the "P-Bracket" (shaft strut) in the First series boats. It is not particularly difficult but it can be a bit time consuming. If you contact Ward Richardson at Beneteau Customer Service (843-629-5300) he can give you the information you need. (I will try to attach the PDF but if that doesn't work, if you PM me with your email address I will forward the file to you directly.) The shaft in that boat is, I believe, 30mm. From the look of it, there isn't much of a "bend" and, if so, a good machine shop can straighten it without much difficulty. If not, Beneteau can provide a replacement shaft, usually at a cost that is less than what's typically charged by a "Prop Shop". All up, unless your boat yard is taking your pants off, I think you're looking at less than $2,000 worth of work, if that much.

FWIW there have been other threads dealing with "P-Bracket" repair/replacement. Use the search function, above, of prevail upon Gordon May, the CF search guru, to assist you.

FWIW...

This is really helpful. Thanks!