Prop observation

[[2574]]

I need to observe my flex o fold prop as it opens and closes - fault finding - but I can’t find an endoscope tool which might do the job. It seems they generally have a very narrow and short depth of field requiring the camera to be very close, 75mm, from the object to be viewed. Seems unlikely to be successful. Does anyone have any experience and/or suggestions as to how this might be achieved? I have an expensive 360 degree sports camera but I’m somewhat reluctant to submerge it close to the prop especially as I can’t remotely view what the camera is seeing. Thoughts?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Get an IP66 electronic box with a Polycarbonate lid and fit a WiFi camera inside if it . attach to a boat hook and see if you can operate it to see what is going on at your prop

 

[europe172]

I need to observe my flex o fold prop as it opens and closes - fault finding - but I can’t find an endoscope tool which might do the job. It seems they generally have a very narrow and short depth of field requiring the camera to be very close, 75mm, from the object to be viewed. Seems unlikely to be successful. Does anyone have any experience and/or suggestions as to how this might be achieved? I have an expensive 360 degree sports camera but I’m somewhat reluctant to submerge it close to the prop especially as I can’t remotely view what the camera is seeing. Thoughts?

A GoPro should do it in a waterproof case

 

[andsarkit]

A bathyscope?
Bathyscope Other cheaper ones are available or you could make one.

 

[William_H]

I presume from, this post that the OP is not willing to get in the water with mask and snorkel. So can't help. However I did sail on an old Admirals Cup Farr 40 that had a window in the hull above the folding prop. Just to confirm fold for racing. ol'will

 

[penfold]

Why would any sane person want to be in the water when the prop is spinning? The risk assessment would make interesting reading.

 

[sailaboutvic]

@Robih I just gone through this with mine , I ended up getting in the water and moving it by hand to see if it was opening and closing easy ( not while it’s working )
I had a good chat with the company and they said if I couldn’t find my problem to send them the prop and they would check it .
one thing they did suggest was it’s been known that a small bit of fishing line within the gear would stop it opening all the way , so might be worth checking .
I am planning to dry my boat out once back to get a good at it.

 

[scottie]

I have a memory of clear hull botTom section to align non folding 2blade prop behind keel to allow locking to cut drag

 

[Neeves]

The answers are all above - I'm just fine tuning.

You can buy cheap Go-pro clones that are sufficiently waterproof and/or fit waterproof housings. Cheap water proof digital cameras are readily available. I have used both to record fouling of props and hull coated with various anti-fouling products. Just set in video mode, hold camera and record or use in single image mode and simply press shutter repeatedly. Its not as if you 'pay' any cost for the images - delete and repeat. Have a laptop handy (and dry towels. ) to check images - and repeat if necessary. Bathyscopes work well, from a dinghy, if you simply want to have a look. If you have a 'waterproof' phone, and are bit twitchy, you can also source waterproof casings for most, popular phones, good for a decent few metres of depth. Again, I have one, and its a useful investment (even for a supposedly waterproof, commonly expensive, phone) as you can use it on deck in bad weather. They are a bit clunky - but better than risking that mobile .

Acrylic windows over the prop work and are common place on racing yachts - but are bit of a faff to instal - unless you race. We simply had a volunteer go over the side - but that was in HK's warm water.

If you service the prop correctly when the yacht is on the hard you should really not have any problems - other than Vic's fishing lines, errant poly bags or kelp (and then you need to get over the side or slip).

Jonathan

 

[sailaboutvic]

Jonathan now we back in northern waters going over the side not all way the answer , as I found out lately .
the temperature of the water one thing , but more the visibility,
I had to go over several times over the last few weeks to check what going on , and even with a touch I two plastic bags to try and waterproof them close up with my face almost touching the prop it was hard to see hats going on espically
in my case where I know got a few second before going back up to for air .
I wish now I never sold my power dive.
oh by the way touch no longer works

 

[rib]

Jonathan now we back in northern waters going over the side not all way the answer , as I found out lately .
the temperature of the water one thing , but more the visibility,
I had to go over several times over the last few weeks to check what going on , and even with a touch I two plastic bags to try and waterproof them close up with my face almost touching the prop it was hard to see hats going on espically
in my case where I know got a few second before going back up to for air .
I wish now I never sold my power dive.
oh by the way touch no longer works

Get a pack of waterproof matches

 

[[2574]]

@Robih I just gone through this with mine , I ended up getting in the water and moving it by hand to see if it was opening and closing easy ( not while it’s working )
I had a good chat with the company and they said if I couldn’t find my problem to send them the prop and they would check it .
one thing they did suggest was it’s been known that a small bit of fishing line within the gear would stop it opening all the way , so might be worth checking .
I am planning to dry my boat out once back to get a good at it.

Vic,

That‘s interesting. My issue is that the prop is causing the wobbles when engaging forward gear after having been closed when sailing. I have to repeatedly engage ahead/astern and fluctuate engine speed to get the prop to go to a balanced state. It feels like one of the blades hasn’t opened properly but with a (quite new) flex o fold that isn’t possible. The gears aren’t badly worn. Annual maintenance hasn’t revealed any issues with the prop. This problem has been going on a while but is getting worse and has now reached very irritating status. The people at Darglow have been very helpful and The plan is to send the prop to them this winter for a checkover. But I wanted to get video evidence of the prop in operation to help diagnose, hence this post.

 

[Neeves]

Vic,

That‘s interesting. My issue is that the prop is causing the wobbles when engaging forward gear after having been closed when sailing. I have to repeatedly engage ahead/astern and fluctuate engine speed to get the prop to go to a balanced state. It feels like one of the blades hasn’t opened properly but with a (quite new) flex o fold that isn’t possible. The gears aren’t badly worn. Annual maintenance hasn’t revealed any issues with the prop. This problem has been going on a while but is getting worse and has now reached very irritating status. The people at Darglow have been very helpful and The plan is to send the prop to them this winter for a checkover. But I wanted to get video evidence of the prop in operation to help diagnose, hence this post.

Then bite the bullet.

A waterproof case for a phone or cheap Go-Pro (ours cost peanuts) with cover with case cost nothing, or nothing compared with the prop. Tie yacht securely, have someone to help. Access location where you can 'see' the prop, you might need a dinghy, and then have engine put in and out of gear - take multiple vids. Check vids immediately after and make sure you have 'what you want'.

Jonathan now we back in northern waters going over the side not all way the answer , as I found out lately .
the temperature of the water one thing , but more the visibility,
I had to go over several times over the last few weeks to check what going on , and even with a touch I two plastic bags to try and waterproof them close up with my face almost touching the prop it was hard to see hats going on espically
in my case where I know got a few second before going back up to for air .
I wish now I never sold my power dive.
oh by the way touch no longer works

As you reach maturity temperature of the water becomes an increasing problem - what used to be warm is now very cold. Our waters tend to be clear though this does depend on how much rain and run off there is and where we are (the parrot fish in the tropics cloud waters). Its also useful to dive 'outside' mid-day. We find we can see better if the sun is at an angle rather than direct overhead (as with the latter the hull produces shade but at an angle shines direct onto the prop) - so no need for a torch.

You need good support - someone who understands what you are doing. They can then run the engines in forward and reverse etc. You will need to close the prop manually. Explain carefully - as mentioned you don't want to be anywhere near a moving prop - issue your instructions and again and then make sure you are comfortable what you are doing is understood.

Jonathan

 

[Minerva]

I bought a WiFi Endoscope at the start of the season and it has a large(all things considered) depth of field - this one; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08MT6ZVTZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used it two weeks ago to inspect my prop and it done it just nicely. I taped it to the boat hook and from the tender managed to get a great view of the line I had just picked up, beautifully wrapped around the propellor in 1200p hi definition...

One thing I would note, the one I got was 2m long - If I were buying again, I would try and get one longer. Whilst the camera is waterproof - the battery / wifi box isn't and was a little too close to the water line for my liking...

 

[sailaboutvic]

I bought a WiFi Endoscope at the start of the season and it has a large(all things considered) depth of field - this one; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08MT6ZVTZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used it two weeks ago to inspect my prop and it done it just nicely. I taped it to the boat hook and from the tender managed to get a great view of the line I had just picked up, beautifully wrapped around the propellor in 1200p hi definition...

One thing I would note, the one I got was 2m long - If I were buying again, I would try and get one longer. Whilst the camera is waterproof - the battery / wifi box isn't and was a little too close to the water line for my liking...

After all the ins and outs I had this year I'm thinking of buying some thing. Tho not sure how helpful it be in the muddy water we was I
Pass years I had a power dive which was used a lot ,

 

[Ammonite]

I need to observe my flex o fold prop as it opens and closes - fault finding - but I can’t find an endoscope tool which might do the job. It seems they generally have a very narrow and short depth of field requiring the camera to be very close, 75mm, from the object to be viewed. Seems unlikely to be successful. Does anyone have any experience and/or suggestions as to how this might be achieved? I have an expensive 360 degree sports camera but I’m somewhat reluctant to submerge it close to the prop especially as I can’t remotely view what the camera is seeing. Thoughts?

These are pretty good and have a 16" focal length. I've had one for a couple of years.
Deal: Wireless Endoscope,DEPSTECH Upgrade 5.0MP HD WiFi Borescope, 16 inch Focal Distance, Semi-Rigid Snake Inspection Camera with 2200 mAh Battery for iOS & Android Smart Phone & Tablets-16.5Ft https://amzn.eu/d/9uHast3

 

[dunedin]

These are pretty good and have a 16" focal length. I've had one for a couple of years.
Deal: Wireless Endoscope,DEPSTECH Upgrade 5.0MP HD WiFi Borescope, 16 inch Focal Distance, Semi-Rigid Snake Inspection Camera with 2200 mAh Battery for iOS & Android Smart Phone & Tablets-16.5Ft Amazon.co.uk

Yes we have used a similar endoscope camera successfully to check the folding propellor in use. Need somebody to hold it carefully in the right place, using an L shape pole from pontoon, before engaging gear.
Boathook, bit of wood and gaffer tape made the pole.