Damaged running gear

[Lawrence Falco]

I hit a jetty yesterday in route to Florida from NY on my 1987 Sea Ray 410 aft cabin. I limped into the Delaware City Marina and will be hauled tomorrow to asses the damage. My port dripless shaft is leaking and I am sure I mangled the props. Not if it’s one or both. I’m thinking my rudder or rudders could have been impacted as well as my prop shaft. Going to try to stick my GoPro under there to see if I can see anything. I just have liability on the boat. Ugh

 

[PlayDate]

Really sorry to hear that. If there was any good news you were able to still spin both props. Hopefully the props took most of the damage.

Where did you find a jetty on the Delaware Bay other than the C&D Canal entrance?

 

[Skybolt]

Really sorry to hear that. If there was any good news you were able to still spin both props. Hopefully the props took most of the damage.

Where did you find a jetty on the Delaware Bay other than the C&D Canal entrance?

Had to be that, everyone cuts that green buoy that's way out in the middle. Delaware City Marina is right around the corner form there.

 

[Lawrence Falco]

Just north of the Delaware Canal, we were on route to the Delaware City marina. I stuck my GoPro underneath couldn’t really see much. Looks life there is some rope or cable around the prop. Hard to tell in low visibility. When sun comes up more will try again.

 

[Scott215]

Hopefully not to bad

 

[Flyer5]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully it is less damage than you think.

 

[Stee6043]

Just north of the Delaware Canal, we were on route to the Delaware City marina. I stuck my GoPro underneath couldn’t really see much. Looks life there is some rope or cable around the prop. Hard to tell in low visibility. When sun comes up more will try again.

Ropes/cables might be better than twisted running gear. Here's to hoping!

 

[Fill Ess]

On the bright side, you're ok?

We've had some fatal jetty crashes this summer in New England

 

[mrsrobinson]

Ugh, sorry this happened to you. One of my biggest anxieties on rhe water under power is hitting something. Hit a big log many years back, damaged both props and bent a shaft. Hit something in the Ocean between Cape May and New York City and knocked off the underwater exhaust.

That was smart of you to try to GoPro, I would not have thought about that. And yeah the good news is you're safe, and you were able to make it back to the dock. Here's to hoping it's something simple, not too expensive, and you can get back to your trip soon.

 

[Lawrence Falco]

Thanks, this waiting is killing me.

 

[Scott215]

@phill S were are you in ma. I'm on cape

 

[PlayDate]

Thanks, this waiting is killing me.

Well.....I will tell you my story.

I was on my way back from Tides Inn on the Rappahannock/Chesapeake Bay/Potomac River up to DC 18 years ago with a girlfriend.

It was a great cruise, perfect weather running 24 knots the whole way. Then directly across from Fort Washington we hit something. The water is 65' deep there and we never saw what it was. If I had to guess.....it was what we refer to as a Potomac alligator which is a large cut piece of wood that is barely buoyant. The hillbillies at the headwaters of the Potomac figure it is just easier to throw tree work into the Potomac than pay to get rid of it.

The problem is this is where the prop tunnels can intensify the damage. I like prop tunnels but if something gets between the prop and tunnel.....both lose.

Anyway.......the port engine dies and the starboard prop is making a clacking sound. The port strut had torqued and cracked the strut mount on the hull and we started to take on water. Fortunately, we were a mile from the Fort Washington Marina that has a travel lift. We headed to the marina with the starboard engine.

About 30 minutes later the boat was out of the water on a Emergency Haul out and the damage was the strut pad, two shafts and two Nibral props (badly damaged). Fortunately we weren't that far from home so we had it blocked and caught a taxi home.

It took almost a month before it was ready to go back in the water. The strut pad had to be completely ground down and rebuilt. The mechanic that did they work did a great job and I sourced the shafts and props. The only advice he gave me was that if I paid cash it would be done in a month. If I used my insurance........it could take 4 months to get the approval to do the work. Allegedly......structural damage to the hull usually requires the insurance company to send out a marine engineer to inspect the hull and write up the process to rebuild the strut pad.

Anyway.....stuff happens ......it is just part of boating. I hope your damage is minor.

 

[SeaNile]

Summit North Marina is also an option if you need to get hauled out. It's about 5 miles from you on the C&D.

I also have a contact for you if you need a mechanic. He's local and has connections to get your props turned around asap.

 

[Lawrence Falco]

Thank you

Summit North Marina is also an option if you need to get hauled out. It's about 5 miles from you on the C&D.

I also have a contact for you if you need a mechanic. He's local and has connections to get your props turned around asap.

J have another set on the boat I am not sure how good they are though.

 

[Lawrence Falco]

Both props are damaged. One rudder is bent not sure about the other. Not sure about the struts. Both prop shafts have to come off and be checked for trueness. Probably looking at a few week repair.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Wish there was an "Unlike" button to click.

 

[Scott215]

That sucks , hope it all works out for you

 

[The Bill Collector]

been there, done that.... shafts, struts, props, and rudders

 

[BlueYonder]

You would be amazed to see what a good prop shop can do to repair a bent prop. Black Dog Props on Kent Island does excellent work.

http://www.blackdogprops.com/

 

[PlayDate]

That doesn't look bad at all. You dodged a bullet with that encounter. My concern was fiberglass work which does not seem to be the case.