Loose Prop Shaft Bracket?

[Tim Good]

I was anti fouling today and found the prop shaft bracket was loose and wiggles both forwards and backwards and side to side. Seems like it is a separate piece and fixed by bolts maybe and then you can see the glass fibre mould over the top of it on the inside under the aft cabin bunk.

My question is how urgent is this! It's only a 1GM10 Yanmar. Should I be getting this sorted like ASAP or will it be ok until the next time I lift the boat?

In another note, what is the solution?

 

[theoldsalt]

Fix it ASAP !!

 

[Norman_E]

You don't say what boat it is, but if what you are describing is a P bracket you must get it fixed and will probably need to lift the boat to do so.

 

[Tranona]

Yes, get it fixed. Expect that under that GRP moulding inside there is a mini bulkhead that the P bracket is attached to. it may be bolted through or just glassed in. Various ways of fixing it, but must be done so that it is secure in the hull and properly lined up with the engine. If you don't have experience in this sort of work then suggest it is a job for a professional.

 

[vyv_cox]

You can find a page about replacing mine at http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Pbracket.aspx It definitely needs fixing before you go anywhere. At least it will lead to rapid wear of the cutless bearing and maybe the gearbox output bearing. At worst the P-bracket could tear out and sink the boat, and plenty of nasties between those two extremes.

 

[Tim Good]

need to lift the boat to do so.

Hmm that's unfortunate as I always just dry out to do what work I need to but as you say in this case a lift will be needed.

Bugger.

 

[Norman_E]

Do not forget that although you can line up the engine and prop shaft with the boat in a cradle, you need to do it again once back in the water as the hull of a fibreglass boat may have assumed a slightly different shape in the cradle because it is not evenly supported, and alignment may be wrong once back in the water.