Prop strike

J

Jonners

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19 Jul 2008
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Enjoying a beautiful day out in Chichester harbour over the weekend, misread my chart and foolishly managed to ground my 18ft bowrider at LW /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. Sods law that it felt like I connected with something solid rather than mud and sand. No damage to the hull fortunately but looks like I've managed to 'nick' a couple of the blades on my aluminium prop quite badly.

Before I go off to ask advice of the marine engineers, just wondered if any forumites can tell me if they've had similar experiences and whether it's possible to file this type of damage out without having to repalce the entire prop?
 
Depends on the definition of "Quite badly".

Last month I was manoeuvring inside the harbour trying to line up for a stab at parking in my berth, but messed it up as I have been parking stern to lately. It was a falling tide so I really wanted to turn to starboard to have another go but some PB2 instructor was stalking me, along with his pupils, and I decided to go to the left instead.

Things went from bad to worse and my prop hit the concrete sill. I have some nicks but they don't cause any vibration or loss of power, so I will continue using it.

I hope the PB2 teacher and his crew - Lawsy and the Philiz gang - use the experience to learn how not to panic in front of a live audience.
 
what do you mean by a nick? If its a few mm, then yea, just file it out, but if the have larger lumps bent or missing, the prop may well be out of balance. If its a single aluminium prop, Steel Developments(and others) can fix it.. probably £ 30-50.
S/S duo props will be a bit more, but they can fix some pretty munched up props !
 
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I hope the PB2 teacher and his crew - Lawsy and the Philiz gang - use the experience to learn how not to panic in front of a live audience.

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Ops! sorry old chap.
Wasn,t trying to 'spook' You.
Thought I would introduce new Forumites.

Seems the Philiz gang will be amongst us soon.
Maybe Little Ship next season (in the Posh Bit) so could be good times ahead.
Fair play Folks.
The Majors berth is next to a lumpy sticky out bit and doesn't lend itself to a minor error.

Then again Major, there is always the Intermediate or Advanced course available /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Sorry, couldn,t resist!
 
It weren't me guv, I was just an innocent bystander! Mind you, you kept very calm about it and didn't let on anything was amiss. Even offered us mackerel if I remember rightly.
No doubt you'll get you're own back and watch me struggle me knackers off soon enough!
 
Jonners, just nip out on the boat and see what difference the nick has made.
If there are no vibes or loss in performance, why not leave as is for now.

As others have mentioned, if the damage is negligable a repair can be had quite cheaply anyway.

Sod's law will dictate you will collide with summat again!
Try it out first is My advice.
Then get it repaired if needs be.
 
Just playing with me Dongly.
Seems to be Strait up and working at the Mo!

'Main Frame' should be fixed in a couple of days.
Then I can give 'advice' on a regular basis /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I did carry out a test afterwards and thought there was a bit of vibration, more so with the wind astern than ahead if that is possible?

The blades are not bent but there are a couple of good sized lumps out of the leading edges on 2 out of 3 of them. It's a single stainless steel unit.
 
Wind astern or ahead should not make any difference.
Depending on the speed you were going at.

The bit of vibration.
At what speed did it feel like the vibes where apparent
Or more poigniant at what revs?

Tiss an 18ft bowrider You say.
What size Lump do have you have.
On the boat I mean!
 
I guess the vibration was at it's worst around 2 - 2500 rpm which equates to roughly 8 kts in my boat. Didn't get much chance to open her up much above that on Saturday due to a nervous passenger not wanting to leave the safety of Chi harbour!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

It's a 3.0 mercruiser inboard by the way.
 
Tom, I wish to deny all personal knowledge of any stalking. However, what said anonymous instructor (lets call him 'k') was up to when my back was turned I can but guess.
 
Did Your nervous passenger know about the dodgy prop!
Anyway as houghn points out a repair as per His suggested method is feasable.
However a bit more technical with a stainless prop like Yours than a standard luminum one.

www.castlemarine .co.uk is worth a look.
Not on Your doorstep exactly but the Guy knows what He's up to.
There will be one nearer no doubt.

There is an outboard secondhand bits man in Manchester region.
Bill Hingham/ Higham or similar.
Someone on ere might remember proper like, I fergets right now.
Get a spare prop.
Same diameter, don't worry if the pitch is 1 No out. Just for a spare.

You will probably find the vibes might be less as You hit optimum revs at about 4 to 4500.

Try that without the nervous Guy.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Oh bye the bye for Your info.

Say Your prop is a 15x17 fer instance.
The first figure is the diameter and the second is the 'pitch'

So as long as you obtain a spare with the same first No, dunna be too bothered if the second figure is one No above or below.

The second figure is the theoretical no of inches the prop will shove You forward during one revolution.

So if exactly the same aint available as a spare it don't really matter too much.
That's what I,m trying to say!!
 
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I think he was waiting for an opportunity to say, "Now what did the twat do wrong that time?" But even then, he missed my prop strike.

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Major no way would would I say ' what did the tw£t do' looking at Your Av and Your backround as a Marksman /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
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