How do I find out what prop I need - Skibsplast 700D 1994

[feastino]

I have lost my prop, apparently it spun off when I engaged reverse. Unfortunately I don't have any manuals, and haven't been able to find out what the specifications for the prop are and my online searches have failed to give me a specific answer.

I thought I could enlist help from an engineer, but the 3 marine engineers I contacted for help so far have all said I need to find out what it is before they can help. And I'm the customer with zero mechanical knowledge !

So I found that odd, and led me to this forum.

My boat is a Skibsplast 700D diesel Yanmar 97hp 7metre. The prop was a brass compound, I think it was 3 blades.

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

You need to go to a propeller specialist such as here clementsengineering.co.uk or here hamblepropellers.com as examples - there are many more and give them details of your boat/engine gearbox and they will calculate what you need and either supply off the shelf if you are lucky or make you one. Where are you based?

 

[feastino]

I am in Poole Harbour at Cobbs Quay. I found photos of the prop and it was a 4 blade

 

[Tranona]

Ok, then suggest you try Purbeck Marine in Cobbs Quay who are the Yanmar agents. Pretty sure Gary will be able to sort out size and get you a replacement.

 

[feastino]

Thanks Tranona, I appreciate your local knowledge, but I was hoping to find someone on this forum that may help with the answer.

 

[Tranona]

Probably best not to rely on that. Unlikely you will find anybody who has exactly the same boat and even then it may not have the correct propeller. Tghe only safe way to get a replacement propeller is to go to a propeller specialist or somebody like Gary who will know where to get a replacement.

 

[Chris_d]

Didn't Salterns in Poole used to sell Skibsplast they might have the original spec's.

 

[feastino]

Didn't Salterns in Poole used to sell Skibsplast they might have the original spec's.

Hello Chris, yes that's right I found this searching on Monday, it is Wessex marine, I was hopeful that may lead me somewhere and this is the reply they sent today. So it shows the original purchase order from 1994 in the papers I acquired with her.

"We were the one and only Skibsplast dealer for UK and supplied all the boats so we knew the boats inside out in period. However, in those days there was no formal manual on the boat and being over 30 years ago unfortunately we have no hope of referencing the size of the prop. It would also depend on which size of Yanmar diesel was installed (usually the 96hp). Our best suggestion would be to measure the shaft and keyway then go to a prop specialist like CJR in Southampton with the engine size and revs and they should be able to help."

 

[feastino]

Probably best not to rely on that. Unlikely you will find anybody who has exactly the same boat and even then it may not have the correct propeller. Tghe only safe way to get a replacement propeller is to go to a propeller specialist or somebody like Gary who will know where to get a replacement.

Hello Tranona, completely understand and I appreciate you taking the trouble to explain that.

It's been helpful posting here, I contacted the companies you suggested, and feeling positive we can sort it out soon enough.

Many thanks

 

[feastino]

I don't suppose anyone wants to hazard a guess how I lost the prop? Last time she was out of the water in March 2013 and all I did was replace the prop anode and check the prop nut was tight.

someone said to me the bolt has been 'off for a while because the thread has barnacles' and before my last use in March I hadn't been out since January. very unusual for me but health issues prevented it. And I spent 2 lovely hours pootling round Poole Harbour and it was only right at the end when I was pulling up alongside the fuel berth and engaged reverse and lost power. Presumably because I was going forward the prop stayed on the shaft and only when I put her in reverse

I did think she was slow I just put it down to being in the water 2 yrs and needing a clean. Funny enough I just took her out that one day to clear stuff out, her lift was due the week after so timing was good at least hahah

And then we found prop was missing. Well not missing because it's somewhere opposite Cobbs Quay Fuel berth.

Do props have a habit of working loose?
Have I been stupid somehow?
Hit something in the water ?
How far does a spinning brass prop travel horizontally in water unattached ? LOL

 

[Tranona]

Most likely the locking tab was not in place and the nut undid. The prop will stay on for a while because of the taper fit but as you discovered going in reverse will bteak the grip on the taper.

 

[Jim@sea]

When I was buying a Skibsplast I noticed that the lower engine Skibsplast had a 3 blade prop and the 140 hp engine ones had the 4 blade of prop.
Great Boat. I wish I had it now.

A word of warning.
1 If its been serviced at a boatyard and the service sheet says about the Impeller "Serviceable" dont believe them. In the boat I had there was no room around the engine to get at the impeller,
On a previous boat I had impeller failure and now fit a new impeller at the start of every season.

The boat had been serviced only 5o hours before. I got a marine engineer to strip the engine to get at the impeller and when he took it out it was perished.

2. The rubber exhaust pipe where it connects to the metal skin fittings perish (due to age) and you cant get at it, its underneath the diesel tank. I had to cut a length of the grp where the rear seat is, remove the diesel tank just to reach the jubilee clips to remove the damaged exhaust pipe. On the boat I had itt was leaking into the bilges.

 

[Seastoke]

Thanks Tranona, I appreciate your local knowledge, but I was hoping to find someone on this forum that may help with the answer.

You have.

 

[Seastoke]

I don't suppose anyone wants to hazard a guess how I lost the prop? Last time she was out of the water in March 2013 and all I did was replace the prop anode and check the prop nut was tight.

someone said to me the bolt has been 'off for a while because the thread has barnacles' and before my last use in March I hadn't been out since January. very unusual for me but health issues prevented it. And I spent 2 lovely hours pootling round Poole Harbour and it was only right at the end when I was pulling up alongside the fuel berth and engaged reverse and lost power. Presumably because I was going forward the prop stayed on the shaft and only when I put her in reverse

I did think she was slow I just put it down to being in the water 2 yrs and needing a clean. Funny enough I just took her out that one day to clear stuff out, her lift was due the week after so timing was good at least hahah

And then we found prop was missing. Well not missing because it's somewhere opposite Cobbs Quay Fuel berth.

Do props have a habit of working loose?
Have I been stupid somehow?
Hit something in the water ?
How far does a spinning brass prop travel horizontally in water unattached ? LOL

Could you not employ a diver to look for it .

 

[Tranona]

Could you not employ a diver to look for it .

Best of luck where it is located. The mud at that point is only slightly less liquid than the seawater!

 

[feastino]

AT low tide its 2ft. Marine did a visual and prodding search but no luck at last week's low tide. We have a metal detectorist going to have a try to find it with me next week. Tranona is bang on about the seabed at the location too.

Could you not employ a diver to look for it

 

[feastino]

When I was buying a Skibsplast I noticed that the lower engine Skibsplast had a 3 blade prop and the 140 hp engine ones had the 4 blade of prop.
Great Boat. I wish I had it now.

A word of warning.
1 If its been serviced at a boatyard and the service sheet says about the Impeller "Serviceable" dont believe them. In the boat I had there was no room around the engine to get at the impeller,
On a previous boat I had impeller failure and now fit a new impeller at the start of every season.

The boat had been serviced only 5o hours before. I got a marine engineer to strip the engine to get at the impeller and when he took it out it was perished.

2. The rubber exhaust pipe where it connects to the metal skin fittings perish (due to age) and you cant get at it, its underneath the diesel tank. I had to cut a length of the grp where the rear seat is, remove the diesel tank just to reach the jubilee clips to remove the damaged exhaust pipe. On the boat I had itt was leaking into the bilges.

That's interesting and thank you for taking the trouble to tell me. The prop was defo 4 blade I have photos.

You have.

Yes I have indeed. What I meant was I hoped someone would have just said you need a 'Blah blah prop etc,' But since posting here on this forum I fully understand why that's not the case and each boat is different. I've found the specs I needed for the prop makers, and they're able to manufacture a replacement if I need it. One last chance of finding it next week.

 

[New Boater]

I would love to know what else you find with the metal detector!!!

Good luck with the search! I bet they find it!

My guess is it wouldn’t have gone back very far at all once it left the shaft !

What an adventure!