A Thousand Words ( and Dollars) - a dramatization
- Thread starter vanburen
- Start date
I didn't see any curse words.
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
My interpretation based on the pics is that Ed caught mooring line on one of the props. It pulled the rod thru the mooring ball and did a number on the prop. Am I right?
Bugsy24
Active Member
- Jun 25, 2010
- 2,171
- Boat Info
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engines
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
Einstein! :smt038
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
I hear sarcasm…
I actually would like to know the details, b/c these props are very strong and I’m surprised that what looks like a small rod did hell of damage to the prop.
I actually would like to know the details, b/c these props are very strong and I’m surprised that what looks like a small rod did hell of damage to the prop.
Ryan
New Member
Only 1k... You got a good deal Ed...
First_Mate
New Member
Agree with that...
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
Alex,
It isn't the size of the rod that does the damage.........it is the engine torque. When diesels are in gear and you hit an obstruction, unfortunately it is usually the prop or shaft that gives. With diesel engines there is usually some damage to the boat every time you hit something. Gas engines will bog down and die if you bump a sand bar.......with diesels, you bend blades or a shaft because the prop never stops churning.
It isn't the size of the rod that does the damage.........it is the engine torque. When diesels are in gear and you hit an obstruction, unfortunately it is usually the prop or shaft that gives. With diesel engines there is usually some damage to the boat every time you hit something. Gas engines will bog down and die if you bump a sand bar.......with diesels, you bend blades or a shaft because the prop never stops churning.
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
Thanks Frank.
I was just thinking of my incident last year when I hit a huge log at cruising speed and the only damage my nibral 18.5" prop had slightly bent one blade that wasn't even visible. I had great deal of respect to the nibral props. I'm sure that hitting different object at different speeds and angle will result in very different damages, but I was hoping that our 23" (and some as large as 26") props would handle the impact better than what we see on Ed's pictures.
BTW, I totally hear you on the diesel torque as it's so obviouse while running in the open ocean. It's night and day difference comparing to the gas boat. The RPMs don't move when you climb a wave and don't raise when you ride down the wave. The only change that takes place is speed. It makes cruising so much more pleasant when you don't have to adjust the trottles on every large wave.
Ed,
Would you mind sharing some details? Did you just backed in to the mooring ball and the impact was when the transm. was in reverse? Was the shop able just to fix the damaged prop (if I'm not mistaken it's the port side LH prop) or did you have to buy a new one (I assume that it was fixed, otherwise the bill would be x3)?
I was just thinking of my incident last year when I hit a huge log at cruising speed and the only damage my nibral 18.5" prop had slightly bent one blade that wasn't even visible. I had great deal of respect to the nibral props. I'm sure that hitting different object at different speeds and angle will result in very different damages, but I was hoping that our 23" (and some as large as 26") props would handle the impact better than what we see on Ed's pictures.
BTW, I totally hear you on the diesel torque as it's so obviouse while running in the open ocean. It's night and day difference comparing to the gas boat. The RPMs don't move when you climb a wave and don't raise when you ride down the wave. The only change that takes place is speed. It makes cruising so much more pleasant when you don't have to adjust the trottles on every large wave.
Ed,
Would you mind sharing some details? Did you just backed in to the mooring ball and the impact was when the transm. was in reverse? Was the shop able just to fix the damaged prop (if I'm not mistaken it's the port side LH prop) or did you have to buy a new one (I assume that it was fixed, otherwise the bill would be x3)?
Last edited:
vanburen
New Member
Good to see that a post without any details generated this interest. Essentially, I hit what I believe was a submerged mooring ball (that is my story and I'm sticking to it - there are not any racing stripes on the boat indicating surface contact) - there was a shudder (thought I had hit bottom) so I went to neutral. When in gear, there was a tick-tick-tick sound so I came in on one engine.
A dive revealed a chain hanging off my prop. Closer inspection showed it was the mooring ball rod wrapped around the shaft in front of the prop - which I was unable to get off myself, and which took a diver with a hacksaw to remove (well actually two divers, the first had no hacksaw and then ran out of air - the two things we needed that I didn't have- not the brightest bulb I fear). Harbor Diving and Salvage took 2 minutes to cut it off - and then pulled the props for me - kudos to them if you need someone in Annapolis.
I chose to pull both - and am glad as the other prop had a bent blade likely from some distant mishap. So they were reconditioned by Digital Props, and are back on. About a grand for the props, and probably have that in dive fees. But my props are pretty now!
A dive revealed a chain hanging off my prop. Closer inspection showed it was the mooring ball rod wrapped around the shaft in front of the prop - which I was unable to get off myself, and which took a diver with a hacksaw to remove (well actually two divers, the first had no hacksaw and then ran out of air - the two things we needed that I didn't have- not the brightest bulb I fear). Harbor Diving and Salvage took 2 minutes to cut it off - and then pulled the props for me - kudos to them if you need someone in Annapolis.
I chose to pull both - and am glad as the other prop had a bent blade likely from some distant mishap. So they were reconditioned by Digital Props, and are back on. About a grand for the props, and probably have that in dive fees. But my props are pretty now!
Bugsy24
Active Member
- Jun 25, 2010
- 2,171
- Boat Info
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engines
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
Alex.. you don't hear Sarcasm, you have read it!!! But we still love you!
Ed, yes you got a good deal!!!
Ed, yes you got a good deal!!!
vanburen
New Member
Boat ran so much better with the reconditioned props. I got higher rpm than I've ever seen (2650-2670) and really felt great. So, while not a cheap exercise, there were some benefits.