clipper log impeller - removal and blanking plug advice

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niccapotamus

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Hi

on our previous boats I have removed the log impeller after every weekend. Had a bung to shove in the hole and do up. result was a brief splash of water.

the new boat has a clipper impeller and a blanking cap. I can't seem to screw the blanking cap on so quickly as I used to be able to insert a bung hence I get more water shooting in, and because the bilges are shallow, all up the door to the heads, and all over my lap. fantastic!

two questions please guys:

1. clipper just seem to sell blanking caps. do we know a source of plugs to fit instead?
2. I presume you all remove the log impeller each weekend to minimise fouling?

and is there a better way?

cheers

Nick
 
We had the same issue on the last boat with a clipper, but got pretty quick at switching them over under a heavy cloth / old towel which stopped the water going anywhere except the bilges, then its a quick job to mop them dry.
 
niccapotamus said:
2. I presume you all remove the log impeller each weekend to minimise fouling?

and is there a better way?
Click to expand...

I clean and antifoul the log impeller about twice a year. Otherwise, it stays put and just works. Try antifouling yours (it's easier to do if you take the paddlewheel out and antifoul that separately).
 
pvb said:
I clean and antifoul the log impeller about twice a year. Otherwise, it stays put and just works. Try antifouling yours (it's easier to do if you take the paddlewheel out and antifoul that separately).
Click to expand...

For the past two seasons I have antifouled my log impeller using Velox propeller A/F. Very effective indeed. We have now been launched for a couple of months, have not pulled the impeller once. The prop and P-bracket, painted with the same stuff, are also perfectly clean.
 
Hi

I fitted a clipper one during the winter and remove it every time as we are on a mud berth.

The first time I removed it was scary and I made a hash of getting the cap on, resulting in more than the usual amount getting in.
However, with practice I am getting better at fitting and recovering the impeller. I remove it with my right hand, using my left hand as a mobile plug.
I estimate that not much more than a litre gets in on a good day. 2 litres on a bad day.
I am fortunate that I have the impeller in a watertight locker, so if I get too much water in it isn't critical.

Could you perhaps rig some kind of coffer dam round the transducer? At least that should reduce the overflow.

Good luck and keep practicing!

Ian
 
I have the same impeller, however I only remove it when the log stops working. Lets be honest, it's a PITA to do. And frankly, in an "only as good as the weakest link" parallel, I find the prospect of leaving my heavily laminated 1970s cruiser, with a minimal amount of bronze seacocks closed firmly and a freshly turned squirt of grease into the bronze stern gland, to the mercy of a 50p plastic milk bottle cap frankly terrifying. I've seen all manner of floating treetrunks etc around my swinging mooring, and it would be just my luck for one to bob along under the surface and somehow poke a branch up the impeller hole and sink her! At least leaving the impeller in place seems a bit more secure as it's a lot more substantial than the blanking cap and is watertight even without the thread element being done up.

If I do need to change it, I simply poke another impeller in the hole. Mine packed up a few years ago so I fitted a new one but just left the old one in place...wire and all so it can't go anywhere. It's very easy to do one out, one in, and it avoids any "ohnobuggercrossedthreadfeckfeckfeck" moments.
 
Iain C said:
"ohnobuggercrossedthreadfeckfeckfeck" moments.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, how that resonates.... we too have a NASA impeller and a deep hull shape. On other boats I'd seen the owner remove the impeller with a modest gush of water. The first time I took ours out, I got hit in the face by the inrush. There I was, frantically trying to get the cap on while the other half was having hysterics in the cockpit.
 
We remove ours each time we get back to the mooring - bit of a gush of water before the screw thread cap goes on - not really a prob - no more than a couple of cups of water - a lot more if under way!
 
I wouldn't leave it in place for more than the time to clean the impellor - and never EVER leave the boat :eek:, but a demijohn bung from Boots must be about the right size and no thread to "ohnobuggercrossedthreadfeckfeckfeck"
 
vyv_cox said:
For the past two seasons I have antifouled my log impeller using Velox propeller A/F. Very effective indeed. We have now been launched for a couple of months, have not pulled the impeller once. The prop and P-bracket, painted with the same stuff, are also perfectly clean.
Click to expand...

ooh top advice - one to bear in mind for next season
 
Stemar said:
I wouldn't leave it in place for more than the time to clean the impellor - and never EVER leave the boat :eek:, but a demijohn bung from Boots must be about the right size and no thread to "ohnobuggercrossedthreadfeckfeckfeck"
Click to expand...

I might try this as it is the crossed thread thing that really pissed me off!!

remove, bung, clean, and re-insert. I agree with other posters in hindsight that leaving a poxy crappy little milkbottle cap over the hole for long periods must be a bad idea.

got me wondering whether the old impellor that i discovered on the boat deep in a locker fits the hole....might try it at the (significant) risk of another extended oh feckohfeckohfeck moment
 
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