Curious case of the boat that kept turning to Starboard !

O

oldgit

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Nov 2001
Messages
29,353
Location
Medway
Visit site
Left mooring for short cruise. Set both engines to 1500 RPM and away.
Decided to activate autopilot, boat abruptly swings to starboard .
Deactivate A/P and carry on for bit, try again with same result.
Had been fiddling with wiring in lazerette,suspected that had disconnected something to do with fluxgate or A/P.
Return home noticing that helm indicator was showing an offset, assumed that electrics the problem.
Soon have that sorted.
However attempting to moor, became very obvious that something was seriously amiss, no propulsion from port engine. !!!!
Arggh ...... MS4B, Volvo Penta chocolate teapot gearbox. ££££££££
Moor up and lift engine covers, curious and curiouser, coupling and shaft turning !
Sigh.:(
04.00. On drying blocks and yes it is light at that time of the morning. :(
Propellor spinning on shaft........Woodruff key had literally sheared in half.
Made up new key and back on mooring couple of hours later.
 
Last edited:
Shaft you say? :p

Oh well at least you kept the prop. One of mine went spinning off somewhere to join Neptune's collection.
 
There would have been something wrong with the taper fit if the key has sheared.

The taper should have been driving the prop with no load on the key. I'd do a few trial fits of the prop with no key after a careful lapping with grinding paste to be sure.
 
oldgit said:
Left mooring for short cruise. Set both engines to 1500 RPM and away.
Decided to activate autopilot, boat abruptly swings to starboard .
Deactivate A/P and carry on for bit, try again with same result.
Had been fiddling with wiring in lazerette,suspected that had disconnected something to do with fluxgate or A/P.
Return home noticing that helm indicator was showing an offset, assumed that electrics the problem.
Soon have that sorted.
However attempting to moor, became very obvious that something was seriously amiss, no propulsion from port engine. !!!!
Arggh ...... MS4B, Volvo Penta chocolate teapot gearbox. ££££££££
Moor up and lift engine covers, curious and curiouser, coupling and shaft turning !
Sigh.:(
04.00. On drying blocks and yes it is light at that time of the morning. :(
Propellor spinning on shaft........Woodruff key had literally sheared in half.
Made up new key and back on mooring couple of hours later.
Click to expand...

Oh my......
 
Had a bit of fun last week when Fifty Shades kept turning to port. Turned out it was one of the rudders knocked off true by something! :ambivalence:

A few minutes on the rudder stock with a screwdriver/lever and a hammer sorted it out, followed by industrious tightening on the bolts sorted it, all while cruising up the 'Thames....

Going to check everything this weekend....never seen this before :nonchalance:
 
The shaft had been replaced at some point and whoever had supplied the replacement shaft had been a bit economical in the key size dept.
Seen bigger more substantial keys on a lawnmower.
On further inspection the bit of key recovered was a very suspicious shade of pink.
 
Last edited:
Should have gone to Clements for the props, new keys come as standard and lock nuts with keepers. For a pennuth of tar, or a horse shoe nail, as the saying goes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top