Propeller fell off after 1 hour, what to do?

[nrbx]

Divers reckon under 5% chance of finding it, so not worth it.

The problem is we were moving out of gear for around 50-100 meters after the initial power, so we can't identify accuratly at all where it was within a 100 meter stretch of the channel.

It didn't help that we acctually thought the gearbox had gone as it was making a strange noise, later found out that was just due to being no load, so we were not really looking to remember our position!

They suspect given the silt that will now be over it, the chances of finding it are well under 5%.

 

[DAKA]

Sounds like you're starting to build up a case, but it is still your word against his at the mo. In Small Claims court, they tend to find for the customer in these sort of cases.

Searush is right.

You dont need proof in a small claims court, the judge will listen and make his assessment.

The boat was in a compound while lifted out reducing the chance of theft.

Props are specialist and second hand values low.

Buying a locking washer isnt proof he remembered to lock the tabs or managed to push them far enough.

sending a diver down to recover the prop could be throwing good money after bad.

The locking washer will be miles away, having spun off the prop would stay on held on by 200 hp of forward thrust.
The fact that it fell off when in astern shows that it would have easily come off if someone tried to steel it.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Searush is right.



Buying a locking washer isnt proof he remembered to lock the tabs or managed to push them far enough.

sending a diver down to recover the prop could be throwing good money after bad.

The locking washer will be miles away, having spun off the prop would stay on held on by 200 hp of forward thrust.
The fact that it fell off when in astern shows that it would have easily come off if someone tried to steel it.

If I were nearby I'd go and look for the prop, a bottle of gin is my usual fee

The point is that if the prop is found and no damage to hull or stern gear then the only cost is a quick lift out and refit.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

The point is that if the prop is found and no damage to hull or stern gear then the only cost is a quick lift out and refit.

... and there's no waiting around for a new prop to get sourced, ordered, delivered etc.

Are ordinary mortals allowed to dive in Portsmouth harbour, or is some special permit from QHM required?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[nrbx]

Well if anyone is in the area and want's the challenge i would buy it back for 250 regardless of if i've already bought another one! Or alternativly lots of Gin!!!

Clearly if that happened before i bought a new one this is much better haha.

It was lost around 50 - 150 meters is the best guess off of the end of port solent waiting pontoon (not the marina side, and to the left side of the channel looking from the marina).

Im going to give him today to respond to me again, else I'll set a deadline before i take over and it gets messy.

Will try and source a prop/timescale though today.

 

[DAKA]

If I were nearby I'd go and look for the prop, a bottle of gin is my usual fee

The point is that if the prop is found and no damage to hull or stern gear then the only cost is a quick lift out and refit.

I understand your thoughts now re damage.

I used to have a DP290 which used to shed blades on a regular basis.

I was told that no damage could be done(and none ever found ) because.................

Water gets thicker as you get deeper.
there is greater force on the bottom of the prop
as the prop comes off it will be driven down.

as the prop was in astern I feel it is unlikely any damage will have been done.


EDIT
Just realized I have assumed it to be a leg, if its a shaft the prop could hit the rudder, agreed it needs lifting/diver, sorry if I didnt read properly the first time.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Well if anyone is in the area and want's the challenge i would buy it back for 250 regardless of if i've already bought another one! Or alternativly lots of Gin!!!

Clearly if that happened before i bought a new one this is much better haha.

It was lost around 50 - 150 meters is the best guess off of the end of port solent waiting pontoon (not the marina side, and to the left side of the channel looking from the marina).

Im going to give him today to respond to me again, else I'll set a deadline before i take over and it gets messy.

Will try and source a prop/timescale though today.

I think I can hear a gauntlet being thrown down! Any takers? Low water is an hour from now...

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[longjohnsilver]

Low water's not a good time to dive, that's when the visibility is at it's worst, high water is almost always better, unless of course the Solent is different to everywhere else.

You'd also need to check that not only is diving permitted there but also that there will be no traffic otherwise safety is a real issue.

 

[nrbx]

Argh i give up 6-8 week lead time from them all for replacments. Only time i have spare to go boating is within that

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Argh i give up 6-8 week lead time from them all for replacments. Only time i have spare to go boating is within that

Worth a rethink on the diver? Also - anybody local got one of those 3d sonars?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Low water's not a good time to dive, that's when the visibility is at it's worst, high water is almost always better, unless of course the Solent is different to everywhere else.

You'd also need to check that not only is diving permitted there but also that there will be no traffic otherwise safety is a real issue.

Fair enough, I was thinking low water just for lower air consumption. I would have thought that vis in the lake will be poor at any state of tide.

As it happens diving is prohibited in the lake unless with QHM permission; I don't know how readily they grant it. Safety boat (or better, two) very definitely a must.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[dsw]

Thanks for the reply, we had 2 days of checks. Sadly the torque and tightness of nuts on the props was not on that list.

However, the nuts were not loose as i studied the whole boat in detail for around an hour before it went in. There was no obvious gap or loose nut on the props.

bit confused as one thread you said you did not check the work as you know nothing about them and above you say the nuts were not loose as you studied them !!!

 

[NorthUp]

Argh i give up 6-8 week lead time from them all for replacments. Only time i have spare to go boating is within that

Have you tried FAL in Buckie?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Argh i give up 6-8 week lead time from them all for replacments. Only time i have spare to go boating is within that

Not good, have you tried Teignbridge propellors in Newton Abbot?

 

[nrbx]

Thanks for the reply, we had 2 days of checks. Sadly the torque and tightness of nuts on the props was not on that list.

However, the nuts were not loose as i studied the whole boat in detail for around an hour before it went in. There was no obvious gap or loose nut on the props.

bit confused as one thread you said you did not check the work as you know nothing about them and above you say the nuts were not loose as you studied them !!!

I'm not a prop expert hence i paid someone to do it, but i would have noticed a nut being loose is what that says.

Not rocket science...

 

[Assassin]

If the nut was loose, the lockwasher or keys not fitted, and the prop became loose, there would be evidence on the shaft in the form of scoring. Any movement of the prop irrelative to the shaft would leave such evidence. As there appears to be none the only suggestion is that the nut was not torqued up properly.

Taper fittings are designed to hold their load, this simply means the nut could have dropped off anytime along with the lockwasher, and the key could have dropped out. With a taper fitting the prop could have remained in place for a considerable time, even without the nut, key, or lockwasher, before becoming detached. This principle of taper fittings is employed in many situations, morse taper drills and machine tooling being the most common, and how often do they drop out of a machine? not often, and only when they are a poor fit.

 

[nrbx]

Not good, have you tried Teignbridge propellors in Newton Abbot?

Phoned them, very helpful and waiting for a call back.

They may be able to do me one within 2 weeks at a slight extra fee!

Thank you.

 

[paulm299]

Is it possible for the dredger team to keep a look out for it ? They always seem to find mammoth tusks and other archaeological items .

 

[Ripster]

Hamble Propellers may be worth a call, if you cant get it from others. http://www.hamblepropellers.com/

Good luck with sorting it all.

 

[nrbx]

Hi All,

I have agreed a urgent 2 week option from Teignbridge propellors, just going to give the prop fitter a chance to acctually get back to me before i proceed with that.

They made the current ones on the boat apparantly so there is a good chance the new one will match well!

I've offered to go halves on the lifting fee with the guy if he pulls his head out of the sand and orders this prop, nut and washer. Although there is no chance he is fitting it!

So far his phone remains firmly off!