Propeller Protection

[jmp]

Have a friend with a Freeman 27. It appears that the prop is the lowest point and consequently he has suffered damage on both times he has grounded .

I am not experienced in motor cruiser matters , but have seen guard type gadgetry on some craft.

Has anyone a good design , or aware of commercially available fittings.

Perhaps there is one made for the craft in question.My friend is asking Freeman,but I felt a posting here might well prove of value.


Thanks in anticipation.

<hr width=100% size=1>jmp

 

[Happy1]

I have researched this issue and decided not to get one. If you have a look at the link below it explains things. There is a lot of different views on these things, useful for dive boats as it gives the divers an element of protection, but for my every day use and the stories I heard about them affecting your performance I decided against. Would have been about £170 for my boat.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.propguard.net/how.html>http://www.propguard.net/how.html</A>

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[BarryH]

Pretty sure that the Freeman is on shafts. Could the skegs not be extended to give a bit of protection. Maybe extend them and then give the rudders a bottom bearing for a bit of protection too

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[Blue_Blazes]

I have to confess to knowing nothing about Freemans, or is it freemen? Faireys and related craft which live in areas where drying out is the order of the day use drying legs and something called a Jersey keel. This is a tubular steel structure which extends from well forward on the keel downwards to a point below the vulnerable stern gear. Offers little sideways resistance so doesn't restrict turns but does increase drag, so may lower top speed.

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[paulrossall]

Perhaps your friend should go on a RYA course so he becomes aware of where the shallow bits are|

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[rich]

Re:happy 1

You may not know this, But some boats have shaft drive.

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[rich]

many of these fitted two huntsmans n hunttressers.over here /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>rich )

 

[Happy1]

Re:happy 1

Hi Rich, I am aware of the shaft driven boats, but unfortunately I don't know all the makes and models yet, I guess after 50 yrs of boating I will get the hang of it /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif I don't even know the makes of all the boats in my marina, although I learnt about the shaft drives on Brooms with the kind help of Sun-Coast who showed me his shafts and around his engine room /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

Thanks for the information anyway.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[miket]

All Freeman 27's are shaft drive.
The single engine ones usually have an iron skeg linking the keel to the bottom the rudder.
Twins have no such protection, and am not aware of any available.

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[byron]

<font color=blue>The Freeman 27 is shaft drive, a few of them are twin screw. The prop only marginally protrudes the keel. I assume he is using the craft on the Thames only because they are a renowned Thames craft.
There is no way one can really protect the prop. He will have to take more care when coming alongside and not blandly assume that just because its wet then he has enough depth.

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