Gggrrrrrrr!

[Firefly625]

OK, spent hours...in fact probably days on my old prop over the winter (you know the one, it looked horrible).... yes its tad thinner than it was... but looks great and will certainly do another season! (will post pictures), went down to Hamble on Saturday am along with my new rope cutter to fit... rubed down prop tunnel as easier to do without prop in the way, slid rope cutter on ready to measure and drill, slid prop on....and hang on, where's the bloody shaft key.... gone! It was solid in the shaft when I took the prop off in November so left it in there, now its gone... if it had just dropped out it would have been somewhere pretty close.../ but no sign (I looked for long enough)... so all I can think is someone picked it out and nicked it....

Now got to get a new one, its not the cost it is just the bloody wasted time that bugs me....

 

[Poignard]

Don't you remember? You put it in a safe place.

 

[Firefly625]

Don't you remember? You put it in a safe place.

I swear if I ever find that "safe place" it will make me millions, as everyone's most important bits will be there!!

 

[MarieK]

With all the freezing and re-freezing it might just have fallen out?

Any similar boats around you in the yard?

 

[DAKA]

With all the freezing and re-freezing it might just have fallen out?

That would be my thought too.
as the shaft got cold and contracted the key would fall out or frozen water could have pushed it out.

Metal detector should find it unless someone picked it up but too small for most to see it.
is it gravel under you ?
If you dont have a metal detector try a wire /pipe detector, the hand held things you use to check a wall before you drill it (only cost a £5 and you should have one anyway)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Metal-Voltage..._Measurement_Equipment_ET?hash=item58858a812a

 

[Firefly625]

I must say MarieK comment about the freezing and re-freezing it does make some sense. I was on my hands and knees all around the boat trying to find it, if it were there I would have seen it, I am sitting on concrete so easy to find any foreign objects... I must say I did pick up a handful of various stainless steel screws, so its not all bad news

 

[MarieK]

Come on lets see the photos of your handy work!

 

[Firefly625]

Come on lets see the photos of your handy work!

Ok, OK! but prop's at home and I'm at work, I will take some tonight